Karate: Miyagi Kan dominates at Oceania Champs

Miyagi-Kan club was on form at the Oceania Karate Championships. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Karate students from Whangārei Miyagi Kan club came home from the Oceania Karate Championships laden with 15 medals.

Ten students from the club competed in the event, five in the Oceania Championship for those 14 and over and five in the Oceania Cup for those under 14.

The highlight of the competition was a closely fought senior male team kumite final between Australia and New Zealand. This prestige division was last won by New Zealand 17 years ago.

The team kumite final consisted of five fights in which New Zealand had to win three.

Local champion Shane Tregidga won one of those three fights, along with Barney Gill but Australia also picked up two wins, leaving it down to the last fight.

In a highly charged atmosphere, Brendon Running won the last fight to secure gold for New Zealand. Tregidga also won gold for the under 84kg Senior Men's Kumite.

Coach Craig Nordstrand was stoked for all of his athletes' efforts at the competition. The reigning Sport Northland Coach of the Year said he couldn't have been happier.

"Miyagi Kan Karate Club students all performed fantastically. And I mean all of them. I couldn't be prouder."

"Performing in an international competition is a real step up and for four students it was their first time representing New Zealand".

Those four students were Tristan Fewtrell, Roland Fewtrell, Kevin Chi and Jack Hudson.

Roland Fewtrell and Chi both won silver medals for their kumite on the day while Tristan and Roland also got bronze in team kata along with Kingiteahuahu Tana.

Nordstrand, recent winner of the Sport Northland coach of the year award

At the more experienced end, D'Artagnan Gould achieved the rare feat of winning his 3rd individual Oceania title in a row.

Gould won gold in his individual kumite event another Gold in cadet team kumite with clubmate Cameron Sear.

Although karate is mostly an individual sport, D'Artagnan attributes his success to the entire group.

"This medal was won by my Sensei, Miyagi Kan Club teammates, Karate NZ and my parents," he said.

"Also, part of my team this year was the Kauri Club Grant. I greatly appreciated receiving financial assistance which enabled me to purchase some much needed gear for the competition."

Kingiteahuahu Tana won his second consecutive Oceania title while his sister Teuarangi Tana won two bronzes. Imogen Ear also won a bronze.

Nordstrand says that while he runs karate classes for kids from four years old starting that young is not a prerequisite to one day representing New Zealand.

The secret, he said, is "just like anything - hard work and determination."

Medal winners: Shane Tregidga - gold in 84kg Senior Men's Kumite and Senior Men's Team Kumite
Teuarangi Tana - bronze in 68+kg Senior Woman's Kumite and U21 68+kg Kumite
Cameron Sear - gold in Cadet Male Team and bronze in U63kg Cadet Male Kumite
Imogen Ear - bronze in Cadet Female Kumite
D'Artagnan Gould - gold in U70kg Cadet Male Kumite and Cadet Male Team Kumite
Kevin Chi - silver in U45kg Boys U14 Kumite
Kingiteahuahu Tana - gold in U40kg Boy's Kumite and bronze in 10-13 Male Team Kata
Tristan Fewtrell - bronze in 10-13 Male Team Kata
Roland Fewtrell - silver in U45kg Boys Kumite and bronze in 10-13 Male Team Kata