PICS: JKA prepares karateka for Provincials

The Northern KwaZulu-Natal (NKZN) JKA Championships were held on September 9 at the Farmers Hall.

More than 200 entrants from affiliated JKA Clubs in Dundee, Hluhluwe, Ladysmith, Newcastle, Paul Pietersburg, Piet Retief, Pongola, Volksrust and Vryheid, attended the tournament on the day.

Competitors young and old participated in various divisions ranging from Kata to kumite.

The day’s programme served the purpose of preparing the karateka for the Provincial Championships which will be held in February 2018, and for the National Championships which will take place in May 2018.

All competitors who were accorded first, second and third places received medals, and will represent NKZN at national level.

The day’s results were as follows:

Kata Women’s Division:

First place – Jenny Withfield from Paulpietersburg

Second place – Jamie Steenkamp from Newcastle

Third place – Sonia de Pooter from Newcastle.

Kumite Women’s Division:

First place – Sonia de Pooter from Newcastle

Second place – Jenny Withfield from Paulpietersburg

Third place – Jamie Steenkamp from Newcatle.

Kata Men`s Division:

First place – Shaugne van der Watt from Newcastle

Second place – Vishen Bhoonpershad from Vryheid

Third place – Athony van der Watt from Newcastle.

Kumite Mens`s Division:

First place – Lafras Oosthuizen from Newcastle

Second place – Johan Pretorius from Vryheid

Third place – Mthunzi Mbata from Newcastle.

Newcastle JKA Head Instructer, Johan Swart thanked all karateka who had competed, and the parents who had supported their children.

Congratulations to all the winners!