THREE of Northland's karate top guns brought home gold medals at the Oceania Karate Championships capping off a good year for the sport in the north.
The Oceania Championships were held in Auckland at the North Shore Events Centre recently and were significant because it was the first time that New
Zealand topped Australia on the medal table.
The small contingent from Northland certainly contributed to that victory with the team of seven featuring strongly in competition with five golds, four silvers and four bronze medals.
Northland members of the New Zealand team also played important roles in team events held over the weekend.
The Australian competitors outnumbered the New Zealand camp but the Kiwis took full advantage of the home ground support and pulled through with some stunning performances from Northland's best.
Special mention must go to gold medallists Aidan Carr, Shane Tregidga and Travis Butler. Both Butler and Carr have moved to Auckland to pursue a tertiary education but they are both still heavily involved in karate in Northland.
Butler gained selection to compete at the World Games next year by winning a senior division contest and is also competing in Tokyo at the Senior World Championships in November of this year.
Oceania Results
Aidan Carr: Male u21 kata 1, male u21 kumite 1, senior men's team kumite 2, 16yr+ team kata 2.
Cody Rouse: Male 16/17yr u68kg kumite 3, 14-17yrs team kata 1.
Matthew Baird: Male 16/17yr kata 2.
Nikki Roberts: Female 16/17yr kata 2; female 16yr+ kata 3.
Shane Tregidga: Male 16/17yr U61kg kumite 1, 14-17yrs team kata 1, 16yr+ team kata 2.
Thomas Mackie: Male 14/15yr U70kg kumite 3; 14-17yrs team kata 1, 16yr+ team kata 2.
Travis Butler: Senior male open kumite 1, senior men's team kumite 2, senior male u75kg kumite 3.
