Kenpo Squad Set for Europeans

Wednesday, 19 March 1997 00:00

A 30 strong squad from the Loreto College Kenpo Karate Club, Dublin, will compete in the Dutch Kenpo Karate Association's 6th European Championships and Seminar Camp in Amsterdam, Holland in May. The contingent of juniors and seniors will be supervised by the club's chief instructor Alan Corrigan and assistant instructor Dermot O'Reilly.

The three day event - which includes teams from the USA, Canada, England, Jersey, Holland, Germany, Spain, Greece, Belgium and Sweden - is hosted by black belt Willie Kelly a Dubliner, originally from Walkinstown, who emigrated to Holland some years ago and now runs a full time karate and health studio in the Dutch capital.

The 'Europeans' are open to all Kenpo stylists and will include competitions in freestyle sparring, kata and self defence techniques. Demonstrations, and a 'Brotherhood Celebration Dinner' will also take place. Corrigan is upbeat about his squad "We hope to continue the success from our juniors and seniors which we have achieved over the past year or so" he said. "Myself Freda Roberts, Philip Curran and Nigel Reddin competed in Boston recently and brought home first, second and third place in their categories."

"The Loreto College team consists of juniors and seniors, the youngest being 12 years of age. It's obviously a very costly venture but all the students have worked very hard raising funds for the trip. We are also grateful for some financial sponsorship which we received from Pat O'Sullivan, the manager of Crazy prices in the local Crumlin Shopping Centre," Corrigan concluded.