Club News 2011
December
The 9th December saw the 4th annual Wado UK presentation evening. Once again the night was a tremendous success, with around 170 members and family members attending the event. This years winners of the Wado UK Association Awards were Katherine Rowland-Hill, George Campbell and Jessica Newton. The Woodford club awards were won by Mike Pendergast Service Award, Amrit Dhesi Achievement Award, Charlotte Pinder Kata Award and Oliver Dearing the Kumite Award. To visit the Wado UK website and see photos from the event along with further details, (Click Here).
5th Iceland Bag-Pack
On Saturday 3rd December, several Woodford Karate Club members and parents attended the Iceland Store at the Bransholme Northpoint Shopping Centre. This, the final Bag-Pack of 2011 was aimed at providing funds toward the Christmas Bowling Day. The day was well attended and as a result we managed to add a further £499.82 to the coffers.
Thank You to everyone who helped at the event.
October
Barry Meanwell was in action at the British International Open in Glasgow recently. Click here to see how he got on.
September
Joe Munro and Harry Oetegenn took part in the Northern Open Classic Karate Competition on the 11th September. By the time the day had finished Joe had become this years 13-15 yr's Kumite champion, with Harry just the one place behind him in the silver medal position. For a full report (Click here).
August
The Woodford Dojo was one of the Wado UK clubs taking part in the 4th South Yorkshire Open Karate Championships recently and they were to win six medals at the event. For a full report on the Woodford competitors please click (Here).
July 2011
Paul Newby Training Day
On the 30th July 2011, Wado UK played host for the second time to former world champion Paul Newby. Around 40 students took part including many from the Woodford Dojo. To read a report and check out the photos from the day, (Click Here) and visit the Wado UK website.
Wado UK Junior Championships 2011
On Saturday 16th July 2011, Wado UK held its 2nd anual Junior Championships at the Hull University. Woodford Karate Club was among those taking part and its junior members took plenty of medals along the way.
(Click here) for more details of the event and names of those medal winners
Central England Karate Championships
On July 3rd Harry Oetegenn and Joe munro travelled with several members of the ShinKen Dojo to the Central England Karate Championships in Walsall. Their reward for the trip was a bronze medal in the Cadet Male Kumite section. Well done boys!
June 2011
European Championships for Regions
This years European Championships for Regions was hosted in Ankara by the Turkish Karate Federation and the English Karate Federation was represented by three of its refereeing officials. Tony Dent from the Woodford Karate club was one of those officials and was attempting to add European Kumite Judge 'B' to his European Kata Judge 'A'. By the end of the weekend and following a written exam and practical assessment, Tony had been successful in his attempt.
Tony is pictured below (Right) with his colleague Peter Bibby who was successful in being promoted to European Kata Judge 'A'
May 2011
On the 22nd May the ShinKen Dojo hosted a kyu grading for Wado UK and around 40 students attempted promotion to higher grades, among them were several from the Woodford Dojo. The examination panel consisted of John Moreton, Tony Dent, Barry Meanwell, Paul Braid and Shirley Braid. Many of the students were successful and a selection of photos from the day can be seen by following the link below.
Photos courtesy of Amy Rose.
European Senior Championships
It was hoped to bring good news back from Zurich and the recent European Championships, but fate was to deal a cruel blow to Barry Meanwell's chances of glory. Barry was drawn to fight in the number 5 position for England's senior male team, but the other members of the team struggled to show any dominance over current world champions Serbia. By the time the fourth English competitor had finished his fight the score was 3 wins and a draw in favour of Serbia. This meant that Barry didn't get the chance to compete on this occasion.
It was a disappointing conclusion to an intensive four months training for Barry, but one which we feel his strong and tenacious character will help him overcome.
Pictured above is Woodford member Tony Dent at the European Championships with fellow English Officials Billy Brennan, Dale Gamble and Steve Coupland.
Pre European Squad Training
Monday 2nd May is the final day of the English Karate Federation pre European Championships squad training weekend. The sessions started on Friday 29th April and have covered the whole Bank Holiday weekend, with several sessions each day. Wado UK were represented by Barry Meanwell who is in the senior men's team at the European Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. The competition takes place over the weekend of 6th - 8th May with Barry competing on the 8th May. We will post all relevant news items here as soon as possible.
Everyone in Wado UK would like to wish Barry every success at the event and we are proud of Barry's achievements following his extensive and rigorous training regime. Good Luck Barry!
April 2011
Scottish International Open Karate Championships 2011
On 23rd April Barry Meanwell traveled to Edinburgh for the Scottish International Open. Entered in his -84kg section and the open, Barry was hoping for some pre-European pressure. His opponent in the -84kg was an Egyptian who proved to be quality opposition. With the match going one way and then the other and Barry's opponent on the floor twice things were looking good. Unfortunately with no scoreboard on this area the scores became confused and it was deemed that Barry had lost 5-4. It was a strong professional performance from Barry however and one which should bode well for Zurich.
His open weight division was to be equally disappointing as an eye injury forced his exit earlier than anticipated. It was a long day with a 500 mile round trip, but hopefully the experience will help for the future.
English Karate Federation National Championships 2011
Over the weekend of April 16th & 17th, the EKF held their National Championships at the Ponds 
Forge International Sports centre in Sheffield. The Woodford Dojo had four competitors at the event and the group had secured two Bronze medals by the end of the competition.
Harry Oetegenn and Barry Meanwell winning one each in their Individual Kumite events.
(Read More)
Harry is pictured right wearing his bronze medal
Pictured above is Woodford Captain Barry Meanwell at European Championship pre training. Barry is pictured with fellow England competitors and EKF Board member Ticky Donovan.
Several Woodford junior members and adults took part in a third bag-pack fundraiser on the 9th April, with a view to part funding two more events. Firstly we intend to continue with our coach trips to competitions, by repeating the Chojinkai trip with another to the South Yorkshire Open in August.
Secondly we aim to repeat last years Paul Newby Kumite course either in July or December. For a full report on who attended the event and the success of the day, follow the link below to the Wado UK website.
(Click here) to read more.
March 2011
Italian Open Karate Championships
Tony Dent was invited to officiate at the Italian Open Karate Championships recently. The competition took place in Milan, over the weekend of 18th-20th March. The experience was a great success, with Tony judging in his first European final. Over 2000 competitors registered for the event, with the number who actually competed being nearer 1950.
Tony is pictured below with other International officials and his Tatami Chief for the weekend, Elsa Epifani from Italy, 2nd from right.
The Woodford Dojo was one of the Wado UK clubs which attended the Chojinkai Junior Championships in Penrith for 2011. The Woodford youngsters had successful day at the event, and a report of the days activities can be found Here
February 2011
On the 5th February, two established English Karate Federation 'A' Squad members from the Woodford Dojo attended the latest open squad session in Barnsley. Barry Meanwell and Joe Munro were joined by Harry Oetegenn and Chris Fenton. The aim of the open sessions is to allow those athletes who are not established the opportunity to shine in front of the National Squad Coach, Wayne Otto O.B.E.
The day was a long one with a 9.30am start and a 6pm finish, but all four Woodford athletes who attended the event were suitably impressed with the opportunity. The next open event is planned for September.
January 2011
Four Woodford Karate Club members took part in the Tobi Ishi Kai Karate Championships on the 23rd January and all four were in the medals. (Click Here) for a report on the day.
We are running a bus trip to the Chojinkai Junior Championships, at the Penrith Leisure Centre, Penrith. Anyone interested should register their interest with Tony Dent. Details of the competition can be seen by clicking (Here) for the categories, or (Here) for the rules and other info. The cost of the coach will discounted thanks to the money raised at the bag-pack earlier in December, with the cost per seat being £6 for children or adults. Places will be reserved on a first come first served basis, once the full cost of the coach fare has been given to Tony Dent.
The coach will be leaving the Woodford leisure centre at 6am and will be leaving for home at the end of the competition. If the competition is running late the coach will leave for home regardless by 5.45pm.
