The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

Karate NL Team Excels at Atlantic Championships

The Karate Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Team, including of a full contingent of coaches, athletes, officials and parents, competed in the Atlantic Karate Championships 2013 on February 15 and 16.

The Provincial Team comprised:

Coaches: Wing Au (Head Coach), Randy Carew (assistant in training)

Athletes: Joshua Coady, Kevin Gosse, Nathaniel Besso, Christopher Coady, Lucas Menard, Devon Fitzpatrick, Tyler Burton, Tyson Besso, Ben Wall, Nathan Mullins, Camron Mullins, Andrew Au, Samantha Au, Christopher Au, Brooke Peyton, Tomas Hiscock, Shawn Smith, James Thorne

Officials: Derek J Ryan, Kim Fitzpatrick, Tyler Engram, Tina Fitzpatrick.

The competitive events were Kata, Team Kata, and Kumite. Divisions for each event are determined by rank and age, and in the older divisions gender is another factor.

The Kata event involves a series of pre-determined movements demonstrating high level karate fighting skills. The individual athlete battles imagined opponents as he or she tells the story of the battle through the kata performance. Team NL won 13 medals in this event; five gold, five silver, three bronze and two 4th place finishes.

Team Kata is another event where teams of three athletes deliver a synchronized team performance of kata. Team NL entered four teams and won two gold, one silver and one bronze.

Kumite is perhaps the most exciting event, in which individual athletes meet in combat. The rules of kumite provide for controlled contact. Safety equipment is worn and the officials ensure the athletes fight within the rules. Team NL won four gold, two silver, three bronze and had three 4th place finishes.

The final standings for Karate NL medalists were:
Nathaniel Besso (1st gold – Kata; 1st gold - Kumite).
Christopher Coady (2nd silver – Kata; 1st gold – Team Kata; 1st gold – Kumite).
Tyson Besso (1st gold – Kata; 2nd silver – Team Kata; 1st gold - Kumite).
Christopher Au (2nd silver – Kata; 3rd bronze – Team Kata; 1st gold - Kumite).
Samantha Au (1st gold – Kata; 3rd bronze – Team Kata; 3rd bronze - Kumite).
Tomas Hiscock (2nd silver – Kata; 1st Team Kata).
Brooke Peyton (1st gold – Kata; 3rd bronze – Team Kata).
Nathan Mullins (3rd bronze – Kata; 2nd silver – Team Kata).
Andrew Au (2nd silver – Kata).
Kevin Gosse (1st silver – Kata; 4th place - Kumite).
Joshua Coady (2nd silver – Kata; 4th place - Kumite).
James Thorne (1st gold – Team Kata).
Shawn Smith (1st gold – Team Kata; 4th place -Kumite).
Devon Fitzpatrick (1st gold – Team Kata; 2nd silver – Kumite; 4th place- Kata).
Tyler Burton (1st gold – Team Kata; 2nd silver – Kumite; 4th place -Kata).
Benjamin Wall (2nd silver – Team Kata; 3rd bronze - Kumite).
Camron Mullins (3rd bronze –Kata; 3rd bronze – Kumite).

Karate Canada National Referee Training and Evaluation took place during the same weekend. Atlantic Canadian officials trained and performed officiating duties at the championship events. Three Karate NL officials participated and were successful in achieving Karate Canada National certifications: Tyler Engram, Kim Fitzpatrick and Tina Fitzpatrick.

The Karate NL members represented the province and themselves exceptionally well throughout the championship weekend. Karate Newfoundland and Labrador is proud of the quality of character and the athletic ability which all members demonstrated at the Atlantic Karate Championship 2013 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and extends congratulations to all who participated.

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Media contact:
Derek J Ryan
President
Newfoundland and Labrador Karate
djr@nl.rogers.com 

2013 03 04             3:30 p.m.