Noosa karate team wins 17 medals
28 August 2008
Twenty-one students from Karate Budokan at Noosaville recently represented Queensland at the Australian National Karate titles held in Perth, Western Australia.
The result for Noosa was outstanding with the team bringing home 17 medals, which included three National champions.
This is the highest level of Karate competition in Australia, and for Noosa to have such a dominant force at this level is something the whole community should be very proud of.
Three gold, two silver and 12 bronze made up the mix of medals that were packed in the bags after the titles.
Karate Budokan’s chief instructor Shihan Wayne MacDonald is one of the Queensland coaches and a former multiple Australian and World Champion. Wayne was thrilled with the success and the dedication shown by the local students, saying it was a big achievement in a very busy competition year.
The three gold medalists Ashleigh Jones, 13 and Mikky Ledgard, 13 and Joshua Donoghoe, 11 achieved the title of National champion after a big year of serious preparation.
“It is so rewarding as a coach to see someone want a goal so badly and to finally achieve it,” Wayne said.
“This result for Ashleigh is the culmination of an amazing three years of success,” he said.
Ashleigh has won the Queensland title three times, the Australian open, and now she’s secured her second National title.
Ashleigh has now secured a spot in the Australian team that will compete at the Oceania championships in New Zealand in September.
Joining Ashleigh in the Green and Gold from Karate Budokan in Noosaville are Ruby Drew, Cheyenne Jarvis, Matt Shelley, Luke Walker and Jack Weir.
These six champions have achieved the highest representative honour for a Sport Karate athlete and the Oceania region is the first step on the way to the World titles.
Mikky has recently moved from Cairns to Noosa and performed brilliantly to take the National title in the 13 years Kata event.
Joshua struggled through some tough early rounds to convincingly win the final match and taking out his first National title.
“Overall this is an amazing result for a regional area.
“To have so many representatives at a national title and the success achieved by all athletes is fantastic and a reflection of the great sporting depth of the Noosa area,” Wayne said.
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