London International Freestyle Open
Posted by Office on June 16th, 2010
On Saturday 29th May the London International Freestyle Open competition took place at the famous Excel Exhibition Centre in London. The ISKA sanctioned London International Freestyle Open was part of the bi-annual SENI Combat Sports weekend with so much going on, ranging from Judo, BJJ and Eskrima tournaments, a great evening Thai Boxing show and much more. But it was the London Open which caught the crowds attention when the kids took to the mat all padded up and ready to do battle.
In the boys -25kg, M. Ainsbury fought J. Russell from Cardiff in a great final, both fighters wanting to win this great battle but in the end there could be only one winner at that was M. Ainsbury. He also went one better by taking first place in the -30kg to do the double, a worthy champion.
S. Derby secured 1st place in the boys -35kg then stepped up into the -40kg where the Bolton blockbuster met E. Buck from Nottingham School of Black belts. After a tense fight with both fighters exchanging techniques S. Derby took his second gold medal of the day.
Over in the girls section M. Mingle from Solihull Kickboxing Academy faced T. Price from Cardiff Freestyle, Mingle took this fight after a hard fought battle.
A .Jones won the -45kg while C. Buck took the +45kg. Over in the light contact, J. Tawse from Cardiff met J. Price, his club mate in the finals with the club shouting for both fighters. J. Tawse edged to victory in the end. However, J. Price moved up in the -40kg and beat W. Jenkins to win a gold medal. R. McClusky took his second gold in the +45kg beating N. Pugsley in the final.
Junior boy light contact -55kg S. Brewer beat J. Mason while D. Emsley took third place.
C. Hawthorne beat S. Barrett in the -67kg. The girls light contact section was also very competitive.
J. Madden beating M. Price in the -35kg in the junior girls. A. Price overcame F. Jones in the -59kg in a tight final.
Over in the men’s point fighting in the -67kg T. Kelly from S.A.M.A fought and beat J. Wright from Yeovil. M. Watton beat J. Beech in the -71kg while over in the -86kg C. Lowe faced a hungry
M. Watton, however, this time C. Lowe took gold. Men’s light contact in the -75kg D. Edens defeated E. Gohari while M. Tracey from Solihull Kickboxing Academy won against J. Chester of Essex in the
-91kg.
Women points G. Morgan from Hick’s Karate faced a fierce R. Nelson from Phoenix, point for point, this fight went all the way but it was Morgan who edged to victory.
Women’s light contact Z. Malewicz of the F.S.K beat S. Whittlock also of the F.S.K in the women’ veterans points fighting In the +63kg veterans light contact ladies, Meely Lo who has not fought for 5 years returned to action and showed she has not lost anything by defeating N. Gupta in the finals.
A.Watton won the veteran -63kg points and then stepped up into the +63kg and took a second gold
for the day.
The forms area ran very smoothly, thanks to the hard work from all the judges and officials. The kids sections kicked off the area with -13 Japanese Hard Style with C. Scoble Somerset Karate taking the top spot with her Kata. Next up was -13 Creative Open Hand; with the music playing loudly the area was the main attraction of the competition with spectators from SENI coming over to see what was going on. J. Meek, Phoenix, went home with the Gold medal; with J. Riva, Infinity, received the Silver. Next it was the weapon exponents turn to show off their skills with the reigning ISKA World Champion Jack Underwood in attendance. After all the competitors had performed it was over to the judges and they answered with K. Macdonald, Team Resurrection, in 3rd Position with J.Meek, Phoenix, taking 2nd and J. Underwood the champ taking gold and gaining his spot on the 2010 ISKA UK forms squad.
Over to the Juniors sections with P. Cerson Team Fusion attaining a double whammy taking gold in both the Girls Creative Open Hand and Girls Creative Weapons. N.Whiles, Team Excel, took three Golds in Boys Japanese, Korean and Traditional Weapon Sections. Back to the Creative side with the Boys Creative Open Hand, this was a very tough section for the judges to call with all competitors performing at a high level. N.Whiles had to settle with a Bronze medal this time with M. Lightfoot, Infinity, receiving a well deserved Silver and J.Lewis, Team Resurrection, earning himself a Gold Medal and a place on the ISKA UK forms squad for the first time. In the Boys Creative Weapons J.Lewis took the top spot again with N.Whiles in a very close 2nd and J. Pitman, Infinity, in 3rd.
In the adult sections C.Kelley, Somerset Karate, took the top spot in Men Japanese Hard Style. Next the Soft Style sections with T.Osborn, ZDL, putting in an outstanding performance of his soft style form, taking gold and his team member H.Osborn won the Women’s Soft Style section too. T.Ledger, Team Relic, won both the Womens Creative Open hand and Creative Weapons sections. M.French, Team Resurrection, took 1st in Men Creative Open Hand pulled off a top form even though he was suffering with a serious injury throughout the weekend. J.Evans, Team Relic, performed a solid extreme sword routine, winning himself a gold medal in the Men Creative Weapons section.
Last but not least was the Extreme Martial Arts Tricks Battle. In the -18 years J.Lewis, P.Cerson and N.Whiles battled it out throwing some tough combinations of flips, kicks and twists wowing the crowd with their gravity defying skills. P.Cerson came out on top with N.Whiles 2nd and J.Lewis took the 3rd. Now it was over to the adults with reigning European Champ M.French not wanting that Gold Medal to slip out of his hands. A.Spinx and A.McDonald battled it out for a place in the final with A.Mcdonald winning the judges vote. Next up was A.Ward against the champ M.French, both competitors going all out in their 30 second routines the judges raised there hands towards M.French. It was an epic final with both Team Resurrection members A.McDonald and M.French battling it out for the top spot. When their time was up, they knew they had done their best and it was over to the judges, M.French received the gold with A. Macdonald in 2nd and A. Ward in 3rd.
With all sections finished the ISKA UK would like to thank all the referees and timekeepers who worked hard to make sure everything ran smoothly on the day and the ISKA Amateurs Directors Clifton Findley, Owen King, Paul Gilmore and Joe Hallett. Well done to those who all qualified for this year’s world championships which will be in Alicante, Spain 2nd- 7th November