Eight locals qualify for national karate team

Darcie Smith displayed a first place performance, leading a strong showing for a group of locals at the Canadian National Sport Karate Championships held in Hull, Quebec in late May.

In all, eight local competitors qualified to become members of Team Canada.

The event was sponsored by the World Karate Association and the International Amateur Kickboxing Sport Association.

Smith recorded the top local performance with a first place effort in the Girls 13-17 Soft Style Forms.

John Reid place third in the +35 Mens' Weapons category and +35 Mens' 81 kg Lightweight Continuous Sparring event. Reid continued with a fourth place finish in Mens' Korean Forms and a fifth place result in the +35 Mens' Traditional Forms.

Lorne Keatley finished fourth in Mens' Korean Forms and Mens' +90kg Continuous Sparring while finishing fifth in Mens' Soft Style Forms. Tyson Marcinkowski placed fourth in Boys 13-17 67 kg Point Sparring, Korrie Young finished fourth in +35 Mens' -81 kg Lightweight Continuous Sparring and Allan Spurr placed fifth in Mens' Korean Forms.

Alfonso Gioia emerged fifth in Boys 13-17 Soft Style Forms and Justin Travaglini placed sixth Alternate in the Boys 13-17 Boys Soft Style Forms.

Smith, Reid, Keatley, Marcinkowski, Young, Spurr, Gioia and Travaglini are now members of the Canadian National Team and will compete at the 2005 W.K.A./I.A.K.S.A. World Championships to be held in Niagara Falls on November 5-10, 2005.