37th European Wado-Kai Championships 2009
Following on from her gold medal success at the Ken Yu Kai Open karate Championships in Manchester, Jessica Newton was hoping to win big again.
This time 13 year old Jessica was competing in one of her biggest competitions so far and was joined by Shin Ken Dojo club-mate Matthew March and club instructor Paul Braid, along with several other Wado UK squad members. The occasion was the 37th European Wado-Kai Championships, which were being held in Dublin Ireland.
Jessica was on form as she began her campaign and managed to defeat all before her through the early rounds. Soon she was to secure her place in the final and just a short time later after another typically polished performance, was to be wearing yet another Kumite gold medal, a fantastic achievement for such a young athlete. This is Jessica’s finest win to date, but is sure to be the first of many more high level achievements.
The group were to celebrate further medal success too, as Matthew March was to take to the mats. Matthew, along with his and Jessica’s instructor Paul Braid, had been selected to compete in the Kata (Forms) divisions. With terrific performances from both athletes, the medals carried on coming. Matthew managing to secure the silver medals in both the junior male individual and team events and Paul going one better with double gold in the senior male individual’s and team events.
Over recent months, the entire group have been regularly travelling to the midlands for training and selection sessions, culminating in this prestigious tournament. The results help to cement the Wado UK Karate group’s reputation as one of the leading groups in the area.
Among those who gave sweat and blood over the months were, Joe Munro, Harry Oetegenn, Chris and Dean Fenton and Barry Meanwell. Although these athletes didn’t enjoy the medal success of their fellow competitors, they deserve a mention just for the dedication showed in their pursuit of glory.
6th East Yorkshire Champs 2014 
Hartlepool Wado Kai Champs 2013
