Western Karate Union had just three member athletes in the University of the West of England Team at the 2012 British Universities Championships in Sheffield and all three achieved a medal. WKU’s Sarah Clark won Gold, Jamie Bowen, Silver and Anatoliy Gorshkov (Torsh), Bronze.

In total, six members of Western Karate Union attended the BUCS Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield on the 17th and 18th of March 2012. The three WKU Officials were Nigel Langson, Gary Doughty, and Ivor Thomas and the three WKU Athletes were Sarah Clark, Jamie Bowen and Anatoliy Gorshkov (Torsh).

The Officials travelled to Sheffield on Friday 16 March so that the Tatamis could be organised ready for the start on Saturday 17th. The Athletes travelled on the Saturday for competing on Sunday 18 March.

Saturday 17th started with Kata followed by Team Kumite later in the day. All three Officials were kept very busy throughout the day of competition.

The finals took place on the Saturday evening where WKU’s Ivor Thomas was used to officiate the Male & Female Team Finals.

Sunday 18th was all individual categories where WKU athletes, Sarah, Jamie and Torsh were competing.

Sarah and Jamie were up first with their respective Kumite categories. Their professional approach and training showed and they were soon winning the early rounds and through to the Finals.

Because of the huge entry Torsh had to wait till later in the day but once his opportunity arrived he was also winning through the early rounds. Torsh was then into the semi final where he was up against reigning European University Gold Medallist, Callum Robb. This proved to be a very close match, which Callum said was one of his hardest of the competition, however Torsh lost 2-0 but gave a very good account of himself and he did come back through on the Repercharge to win a Bronze Medal.

WKU’s Ivor Thomas was again selected to Referee/Judge the Individual Finals – 17 in all. Jamie was up first in a very close match were he scored the first point.  His opponent, however, equalised and it went to Hantei and Jamie lost on the decision but gained a well earned Silver.

Sarah was up against an Irish International who was really making hard work of things but Sarah used her skills to win the match 2-0 and take the Gold Medal for WKU.

RESULTS – Sarah -55k GOLD   Jamie -60k SILVER   Torsh +84 Bronze.