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KIWIS DO WELL AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN New Zealand athletes picked up a fistful of medals at the Australian Open and Kyu Grade Karate Championships in Brisbane last month. At the Australian Kyu Grade Champs on 26 April NZ competitors won 11 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze. At the Australian Open Champs on 27 & 28 April NZ competitors won 7 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals. Over three days of competition New Zealand competitors won 18 golds, 10 silver and 14 bronze medals which is our best return from an Australian Open Championship. There were 26 New Zealand competitors from Chidokan Auckland, Fushin Ryu Auckland, Miyagikan Northland, and Rembuden Kapiti Coast that participated over the three days of competition. They were well supported by coaches Gene Brown, Chris Hall, Grant Holland (all Chidokan), Len Monk (Fushin Ryu), Craig Nordstrand (Miyagikan) and Patricia Reilly (Rembuden). There were numerous excellent performances but the standout performance was Amitesh Chand's win in the Men's 65-70kg Kumite. His 10-2 win over Todd Usher in the final was a brilliant performance against a very experienced and classy opponent. Amitesh had fought well in the earlier rounds (including a victory in enchosen over Matt Johnson) but he really put it all together in the final. His speed, timing, body movement and excellence of technique were outstanding. The Australian Open is an important lead-up event to the Oceania Karate Championships in Sydney in September and the Senior World Championships in Madrid in November. Many of the Kiwi contingent were hopeful for good performances to push their selection claims. With over 570 competitors the Australian Open was a huge administrative task to organise and Karate New Zealand would like to thank John Rawlings, Denise Austin and Brigitta Hamilton in particular for ensuring that everything ran as smoothly as possible. The Australian Karate Federation was gracious hosts and there is sure to be an even larger Kiwi presence at next year’s Australian Open. The NZ Results at Australian Open Karate Championships: Gold: Amitesh Chand (Auck) Senior Men’s 65-70kg Kumite, Patricia Reilly (Whitby) Female Veteran’s Kata, Waka Paku (Auck) Boys 11 Yrs Kumite, Aidan Carr (Whangarei) Boys 13 Yrs Kumite, Andrew Fisken (Auck) Boys 15 Yrs Kumite Silver: Jasmine Elson (Auck) Girls 11 Yrs Kata & Kumite, Rhea Dickey (Whangarei) Girls 12-13 Yrs Kata, Aidan Carr (Whangarei) Boys 12-13 Yrs Kata, Patricia Reilly (Whitby) Female Veteran’s Kumite, Antonie Webb-Rihari (Kerikeri) Boys 12 Yrs Kumite, Mitchell Teinaki (Auck) Boys 11 Yrs Kumite. Bronze: Charlotte Munro (Auck) Girls 12 Yrs Kumite, Holly Paku (Auck) Girls 14 Yrs Kumite, Amy Elson (Auck) Girls 15 Yrs Kumite, Ashley Cullen (Auck) Girls 15 Yrs Kumite, Nina Elson (Auck) Female Cadet U53kg Kumite, Thornton Munro (Auck) Boys 10 Yrs Kumite, James Andrew (Auck) Boys 13 Yrs Kumite. NZ also won gold medals in the girls under 12 yrs team kumite event (Jasmine Elson, Jasmine Holland, Charlotte Munro) and the boys under 12 team kumite (Thornton Munro, Mitchell Teinaki, Waka Paku) and a bronze medal in the girls under 16yrs team kumite (Ashley Cullen, Holly Paku, Stephanie Hall)
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