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Post date: Aug 09, 2014 4:16:27 PM
In the absence of Coach Andy Michaelides, a small KBK team travelled to the midlands to compete at the 18th Central England Open Championships. It was sub-performance by the team who only managed to pick up 2 medals from these Championships, compared to the 8 from last year and a top 5 finish in the medal tables.
Nikkisha Bailey was competing for the first time in the junior event and surprisingly lost in round one. Charlie Coulson and Brandon Wilkins were also in losing form, but went one stage further losing in round 2 in their events.
Finally, current English and British Champion Joe Kellaway, who had slowly recovered from his foot injury was made to take charge of the mats. In the Junior section Joe was unstoppable to take the Gold medal. Joe then stepped up into the senior male lightweight division winning his preliminary rounds to set-up a mouth-watering final against the World number 5, Rene Smaal from Holland.
This was definitely and by far Joe’s toughest and biggest test of his career as Rene has medalled in 6 World and European all styles events including a European victory in 2011 and also claimed 4 medals in European Premier1 ranking events – so just a little tough to beat. It was a tense and close bout through the entire period, until Joe scored an amazing ura-mawashigeri in the final second to claim an impressive and very memorable victory and Gold medal over one of the World’s best athletes and incredibly, Joe beat Rene as a junior athlete!
Joe Kellaway (left) collecting his Gold medal and right standing proud with Rene Smaal!!!
Coach Andy Michaelides always tells his squad, that at the very top it’s not about winning the medal, but it’s about how you fought and the victory itself. I’m sure Joe will savour and cherish this victory far more than the medal and trophy he received for it.
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