Kyle Cabangun. Photo supplied.The Ashburton region continues to produce some outstanding results in karate, particularly at the youth level.

A contingent of members from JION International Karate Dojo Ashburton competed at the New Zealand Open Karate Championships in Christchurch recently with a number of medals claimed over the weekend.

More than half a dozen of the Ashburton competitors took part in the championship with three managing top three placings and five medals being brought back to Ashburton.

Taylah Burrowes led the charge for Ashburton on the first day of the championships which were for the 13-year-old and younger competitors.

Burrowes placed first in Kata out of an intermediate division of four competitors.

Winning her first round meant she was able to advance straight to the final which she also won to claim the gold medal.

Later in the day she placed third in the premier F12-13-year-old Kumite 40kg division. After again winning her first round, Burrowes was beaten in the second but in a fight-off for third she claimed the bronze, winning 3-0.

Madison Soal grabbed Ashburton’s other medal on the opening day when she picked up silver in the F10-11-year-old development Kumite.

On Sunday, the championships shifted to the older divisions of 14-year-old and older and Kyle Cabangun produced some good results.

He picked up silver in the Cadet 14-15-year-old Intermediate Kata in a division of five competitors, winning his first round before being beaten for the gold in the final. He then fought in the premier division of the Kumite a few hours later and won his first round match-up 5-1 before claiming gold 2-1 in the final.

Isabel Wang, Holly Burrowes and Kyla Cheyne also competed with distinction at the championships. “They all fought hard and showed excellent sportsmanship, whether they won or lost,” Sensei Thorsten Windhorst said.

“I was very proud of all our competitors.”

For Burrowes and Cabangun the fun is only just beginning with the pair travelling to Wellington in July to compete in the National Karate Championships and National Secondary Schools’ Championship in July.

Burrowes will also be joined by fellow Ashburton gun, Isla Russell, in the New Zealand Karate team when they travel to South Africa in August to compete in the Commonwealth Karate Championships.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 27 April 2017