Battlefords Karate-Do sent 15 club members to Lloydminster for the second of two Genbukai Karate competitions of the season.

The championship held April 21 is the larger of the two yearly events the Battlefords club attends as 325 competitors were in attendance for the 27th annual Genbukai Karate Championship. The large number of competitors meant a long day for those who competed in the sparring, as it was a double elimination format.

It was a highly competitive and intense competition said sensei Elmer Woytiuk, as four local club members earned medals.

In the girls’ yellow belt division, Christia Iturralde won a silver medal in Kata and gold medal in sparring. In the same sparring division, Morgan Esquirol won a bronze medal.

In the boys’ yellow belt division, Gilbert Saymon also won a gold and silver medal.

James Chipak won bronze in the boys’ green belt Kata.

In ladies’ black belt, Bonnie Kowalski won silver in Kata and bronze in sparring.

Barry Grant was the other medalist, as he won bronze in the men’s executive black belt sparring competition.

“All the division were very keenly contested with a large number of competitors in each division,” said sensei Woytiuk. “All the participants came away winners whether they had medals or not.”

To wrap up the year there will be black belt testing in May. The Battlefords have one club member preparing for that.

Once the club gets back into action in the fall, they will be focusing on a tournament at the Don Ross, as the event comes to the Battlefords once every six years.