[dropcap]D[/dropcap]CU enjoyed a successful run in the 2018 All-Ireland Intervarsity Karate Championships finishing second in UCC on March 10th.
Following on from a successful previous year in the competition and great results from the Inter-Collegiate cup in November, DCU Karate Club continue to perform well with 8 gold medals, 10 silver and 10 bronze in team and individual events.
Orla McNabola, the Events Officer for DCU Karate Club and winner of two gold medals at the event, said: “Overall, the tournament went really well.
“There was a lot of hard work and dedication given this year by all team members.
“I’m confident in saying that we will be back again next year, stronger again, proud to be fighting on our home turf.”
The competition was split into two categories, kata and kumite. Kata is a pattern based competition while kumite is sparring. Beyond those two categories the competition was open to team events. Each of the events were also in divisions depending on gender and belt ranking. DCU performed especially well in the female competitions winning 11 medals between the team and individual events while Keelan Gannon won a silver and bronze for the men.
DCU won gold and silver in the women’s brown and black belt team kumite, bronze in the mens black belt team kumite, silver in the mens black belt individual kumite, silver and bronze in the female black belt individual kumite, bronze in the female black belt individual kata and gold and bronze in the female brown and black belt team kata. The junior competitors also performed well having won two silvers and a bronze medal.
“We are extremely proud of each of our members who showed great fighting and team spirit, especially those who competed for the first time,” said Claire Flynn, Chairperson of DCU Karate Club.
“We look forward to our members competing again for us in future.
“We are also very proud of the support each and every one of our members gave to one another on the day of the competition.
“It was fantastic to see that anybody competing on the floor always had someone cheering them on from the side.”
The event is considered to be “a real highlight of Ireland’s third level karate year” according to this years hosts, UCC.
DCU are now set to host next year’s event.
Hugh Farrell
Image Credit: DCU Karate Club