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A team from the current USKFI Senior Squad was selected to travel to Chesterfield at the weekend to take part in the first of this year’s KUGB Grand Slam competitions. The Grand Slam is a must on the calendar of any Irish, English, Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish Squad member hoping to get selected for European or World Championship teams. Along with more experienced team members James Farrelly, Eamon O’Connor and Eleanore Coates were newer squad members Emer Keane, Erris Keane, Georgia Coates and James Hughes who were selected for the team for the first time through their hard work and commitment over the past year.

There were a number of strong performances from the Irish team. Those entered for kata performed well and Eamon O’Connor made it through to the second round, beating a seasoned international competitor on the way. There were some exciting kumite matches with some strong performances from the Irish contingent. Aoife Farrelly, in particular, had an excellent day.  She scored a terrific ashi-bari, kizami-tsuki (sweep, punch) combination for an Ippon (full point) to win her one of her matches.  Although she was eventually pipped to a place in the finals by a strong English opponent, she was complemented on her performance by several people, including some of the referees!

The Grand Slam was an excellent start to the competition calendar and the USKFI hopes for this current level of commitment from Squad and team members to continue towards the 8^th USKFI National Championships in April.

J Madden