World Championships Silver for Lauren Gallagher

Results at the 2016 Karate Wales Open Championships 

The only Welsh championships open to everyone and not restricted to individual organisations was held over two days at Merthyr Tydfil sports centre on 2nd & 3rd July. Although the number of competitors was down on last year did not reflect on the standard of competitors.

All of our athletes performed brilliantly and as a result won a number of medals. 

The WKU won 10 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronce medals:-

Matthew Lloyd: Senior Kumite Gold - Parent & Child Kata Gold.

Peter Barnwell: Veterans Kumite Gold.

Lauren Gallagher: 15-17 Girls Kumite Gold - Ind Kata Gold - Team Kata Gold.

Ffion Galagher: Ind Kata Gold - Team Kata Gold.

Elli Lloyd: Team Kata Gold - Parent & Child Kata Gold - Girls 15-17 Kumite Bronze.

Paul Evans: Veterans Kata Silver - Veterans Kumite Silver.

Lee Ockwell, Gareth Chappel, Tayah Howell and Josh Maunder had excellent performances narrowly missing out on a medal. 

~ FANTASTIC RESULTS - CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR ATHLETES ~

World Championships Silver for Lauren Gallagher

A squad of 48 athletes travelled to Dublin to represent the Karate Wales - Governing Body at the 6th World Union of Karate Federations World Championships, held from the 17th to 19th of June. It was a huge event with over 2250 athletes competing from 76 Federations world wide. 

Seven members of the Welsh Karate Union were part of the squad:

Lauren Gallagher, Ffion Gallagher, Hugh Gallagher and Ryan Williams (Pencoed), Matthew Lloyd and Gareth Rowe (Bridgend),  and Jon Hallett (Carmarthan).

Matthew, Gareth and Jon competed in both kata (forms) and kumite (sparring).

Matthew and Jon won through numerous rounds in their individual kumite categories, both narrowly missing out on a medal in losing at the quarter final stage. Two teams were entered into the veteran mens rotation event comprised mostly of WKU members. Jon, Hugh and Gareth made up one team and Matthew, and Wayne Guttierez of Methyr were two. Both teams made it to the quarter finals but unfortunately both lost to miss out on a medal.

Ryan was drawn in a very strong pool of the Senior Mens -75kg category and despite a valiant effort didn't win through on this occasion.

Ffion was was so close to gaining a podium position coming a very respectable 7th place overal.

But what an eventful weekend it ended up being for Lauren, as she had an important education exam on the Friday she had to miss her kata event that day and travelled out late in the evening. Her 15-17 years kumite category was scheduled for Saturday but due to the tournament running substantially behind schedule it was postponed until the Sunday morning, with Lauren due to fly home that afternoon for another exam on Monday morning!

Fortunately the organisers were prompt and the category started early. Lauren, only 15 years herself, raced through her opponents all the way to the final beating a number of older athletes on route. Unfortunately she couldn't go all the way to the Gold, narrowly losing to her 17 year old Romanian opponent. However, winning the silver medal in a category of mostly older girls and after a difficult preparation was a huge achievement.

Lauren, the current IKU European Champion, now has her sights on that Gold medal in two years time!

All told it was highly successful World Championships for Karate Wales with the squad winning 4 Gold medals, 5 Silver medals and 5 Bronze showing that the Karate Wales Governing Body continues to go from strength to strength.

Anyone wishing to learn traditional Shotokan karate with the Welsh Karate Union can contact Sensei Paul Watson on 07786 933165 for more information.

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