4th ISKA Amateur European Championships 2011
The beach resort of Jesolo, Italy hosted the 4th ISKA Amateur European Championships. A strong England team of 100 fighters, coaches, officials and spectators ascended on Italian soil ready to battle to see who would become the champions of Europe.
The whole team arrived on Tuesday 25th October and straight away went to the sports centre to weigh in, this was conducted by our new European Tournament Co-ordinator, Mr Paul Gilmore. Paul did an exceptional job getting the fighters in and out as quickly as possible.
The team had the rest of the day to themselves to relax before battle commenced the following day.
With the sun shining, it was the day of battle we would know as D-Day!! On arrival at the venue, all countries gathered together for the opening ceremony where each national anthem was played. Sixteen countries took to the floor. This could only be described as fantastic and the atmosphere was electric.
Representing England was young Ryan Gifford from the Winsper camp and Corinne Hoare from team Centurion who both flew the flag for ISKA England, well done to both of you.
The competition got under way at 11am with the boys’ light contact -25kg. Joe Pollit, who for most of the year had been injured but his comeback was nothing short of magic. Looks like the layoff did him some good. He faced a hungry Scottish fighter in the final by the name of Adam Aziz who gave a good account of himself but it was the ISKA world champion who came out on top to win in fine style.
In the -35kg, Ryan Gifford craved a name for himself as he took on Mark Keenan in a good fight but it was Gifford who took the gold to become European Champion.
World champion Sam Derby continued where he left off from victory at last year’s world championships by beating his German opponent in a good final.
Curtis Hughes took the silver in the boys’ -45kg and Adam Robert took the bronze.
George Smith made it to the finals in the junior boys’ -59kg only to be piped at the post from the German fighter.
Junior boys’ -63kg, what a final this turned out to be. Ryan McClusky, the reigning world champion and the new kid on the block, Connor Porter. The power of this young boy was too much for his opponent as Porter took gold to become champion of Europe.
In the men’s’ light contact, Ryan Davis came away with a bronze medal just missing out for a place in the finals.
Kevin Farish secured a silver medal in the -81kg, losing out to his Italian fighter in a close final. Over in the -86kg Jamie Beech was on form to beat his German opponent to win in fine style, also to win was Barry Upton who fought well in the -91kg.
Dean Wainwright won the silver in the super senior men’s -75kg while James Cheetham took gold in a good final beating his Scottish opponent in the +75kg over 40’s.
Over in the girls light contact, Bethany Jones beat Clarice Hilton to bring home the girls first gold of the day.
Emily Ayers took gold from Danielle Gautry in the in the girls -55kg. Bailie Awriza had to settle for silver against her Italian opponent in the girls -59kg.
Women’s light contact Carrie Hilton fought hard to take bronze in the -50kg. Alice Glasspool went two better and won gold putting in an excellent performance in the -55kg.
Victoria Bartle in her first major competition took a credible bronze medal in the ladies -60kg.
In the -66kg who would become queen of Europe? Could it be last year’s world champion Zofa Malewicz, British Champion Gaynor Morgan or new girl on the block Angela Hebden? Hebden narrowly beat Morgan in the semi-final to face a hungry Malewicz. This fight went to the wire but it was Hebden who had the final say to be crowned queen of Europe.
The semi contact section was big; all the names were out there.
Joe Pollitt once again took his second gold in two days in the -25kg. What a week he was having!
Jonathan Vaughan made it to the finals; however, sadly he was piped at the post by his Italian opponent in the kids -30kg.
John Paul Wilson said he was hungry for gold and I could see why as he won in fine style in the boys -35kg, Ryan Gifford took silver and Mark Keenan took bronze.
Sam Derby continued his winning way with gold in the boys -40kg, Kieran Higson walked away with silver.
Bobbi Owen took a bronze in the -45kg while Arlo Brown missed out on gold by one point in the +45kg. Adam Robert secured a silver medal in the junior boys -45kg.
Ryan McClusky who took silver in the light contact made no mistakes this time taking gold in the -63kg, Daniel Lowe, George Smith and Connor Porter took silver and joint bronze.
Connor Hughes fought like a Trojan to take gold from Luke Golder in a good final of the -71kg boys.
Over in the men’s, Andrew Chapman cool and calm eased into the finals and won in style to take home the first semi contact gold. In the men’s -67kg Kyle Findley had a lot to live up to. Watched by many out there in the final he faced his Italian opponent who himself hungry for success, but it was Findley who turned up the heat with fierce techniques to win gold for England.
Jamie Beech also took gold in the -86kg fighting his Hungarian opponent to secure victory for his second gold of the week.
Paul (The Boss) Gilmore wanted to go out on a high and he did that in fine style winning the -91kg from James Cheetham, well-deserved silver.
Men’s vets -75kg under 36’s, Andy (ruthless) Desa showed no mercy to his German opponent taking him apart to win gold. Also Dean Wainwright won gold in the -75kg over 40’s
Over in the girls semi contact, Courtney Ayers and Niamh Bruntlett picked up silvers in the -35kg and -40kg. Bethany Jones went one better by winning gold in the +45kg with Claire Hilton taking silver. Sister Leanne Jones secured gold in the -51kg which put a smile on her face to make it a hatrick for the Jones’. Rebecca Jones won gold in the -63kg with Corrine Hoare taking the silver.
Over in the ladies, Carrie Hilton took silver in the -50kg while world champion Leasha Morrison could not be stopped as she won the ladies -54kg. Alice Glasspool battled it out in the final of the -60kg with Victoria Bartle to take gold to become European Champion.
Imogen Proctor was on a mission in Italy. This fighter was unstoppable as she took the gold medal with a fantastic performance. As did Gaynor Morgan who was on fire. She was not going to let the gold medal slip through her hands. Faced with a tuned up Angela Hebden, these two had fought the day before in light contact and Hebden got the victory but on this occasion it was the determination from Morgan which saw her win gold with Hebden taking silver and Kirsty Crookstow from Scotland taking the bronze.
Men’s open MMA produced some good action with some hard battles. It was Guillame Mascolo and Lee Tuff who made it to the final, this fight went to the wire but it was Mascolo who got the win to bring back gold with Tuff taking the silver and Jacob Constantino taking the bronze.
Full contact saw Ryan Davies produce some quality In the men’s -67kg but in the finals his Turkish opponent was too strong for him but a fine performance to produce a silver medal.
So, to the end of a successful championship, one could only say with 34 gold’s, 34 silver and 12 bronze medals this is by far the best that ISKA England has done for many years.
Our next stop is the ISKA National Championships on 18th March 2012 in Birmingham. It will be qualifications for the World Championships in October 2012.
For more information contact Clifton Findley on 07788476478 or Paul Gilmore on 077855487324 or email
2 November 2011
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