Martial Arts: Derek’s kids face Italian job

Oct 9 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

Derek’s kids face Italian job

TOP karate instructor Derek Pollock will watch with pride as his young team competes in the World Championships for Children, Cadets and Juniors in Italy later this month.

Lauren Cuthberts, Aidan Feeney, Gary Rea, Ainsley Rea and Jamie Robinson, alongside coach David Woods, will represent Hamilton’s Siu Loong Karate Club, while chief instructor Derek will attend the event as a referee, and Grant Wyper will try to become a World Kata judge.

The event, which starts on October 15, will cap another fantastic year at the club, and Derek said: “It’s a massive event and we’re really looking forward to it.

“It’s a really big achievement to take a team over to Italy and I can’t explain how proud I am. It’s a big moment in their karate careers.

“It would be nice to medal, but the experience the kids will get is the most important thing. I hope they can build on it and use it as a platform for the Junior European Championships next year.

“Their progress has been excellent, a lot of the members have been nominated for the Hamilton Sports Personality Awards in recent years, and they’ve won medals in several different championships.”

Three members of Siu Loong’s senior section represented Scotland at the European Championships in Liege, Belgium.

Wyper and Woods negotiated their way through to the first round to reach the semi-finals, with Grant progressing to the final.

Pollock competed in the veterans division and reached the final, where he picked up a bronze medal. He is now the only veteran athlete to medal at two consecutive European Championships.

Derek is proud of that achievement, and hopes that it sets an example to his students.

He said: “I want to encourage the rest of the club. I’m trying to show that sport is for everybody, regardless of age, and to say that anybody can do it, from novice through to senior level.”

Siu Loong’s most recent success was taking three gold, four silver and three bronze medals from the Ayr Open on Saturday.

Gold medals went to Wyper in senior kata, Brendan Jamieson in novice kata, and Gary Rea in kata.

Silver medals went to Woods in senior kata, Ainsley Rea in kata and kumite, and Lauren Cuthbert in kumite.

Bronze medals went to the senior team in kumite, Aiden Feeney in kata, Gary Rea in kumite.

None of this would be possible without a lot of sponsorship, and Derek and his team are pictured receiving a bumper £500 cheque from George and Elaine Loudon of Blantyre-based Gas Certification Company Ltd.

Derek would also like to thank Herron Builders, Dunfermline Building Society, Azzurri Communications, Hamilton District Sports Council, Hamilton International Sports Trust, parents and committee members for their continued support.

Siu Loong meet in South Lanarkshire Lifestyles, Eddlewood, on Tuesdays from 6.30pm-8.30pm and Wednesdays from 5.30pm-6.30pm, and the Jock Stein Sports Centre on Thursdays from 7-9pm and Sundays from 3pm-4pm.