The Japan Karate Association/World Federation (JKA/WF Guyana) held its 2009 National Karate Championships on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
In the Boys 14-16 Kata Division, there was keen competition with Prince Roberts emerging the winner with 19.4 points for Kata Gojushiho Sho which he did with great competence.
![20090825winners Winners of the JKA/WF National Karate Competition stand with the judges for a photograph.](https://s1.stabroeknews.com/images/2009/08/20090825winners-278x148.jpg)
Second was Montel Trotman who acquired 18.9 points for his Kata Bassai Dai.
However, in the Kumite division, Trotman proved supreme by defeating Roberts in the first match and then Kevin Chin in the championship match.
In the 18 plus female division Claire Cheeks won both the Kata and Kumite titles.
Cheeks scored 19.6 points with Jion Kata.
Second place finisher Nikita Clark scored 19.3 points while Tamika Nicholas finished third with 19.1 points.
In the Kumite category, Cheeks defeated Clark after scoring two points to none by her opponent while Nicholas defeated Diana Gobin to secure third place.
The final division, the 18+ Male Category saw Christopher Waddell winning both the Kata and Kumite titles.
Marlon George placed second in both categories.
In the Kata division, Waddell scored 19.3 points with the Bassai Dai Kata while George scored 19.0 points and Mahendranauth Sanichar 18.8 points for third place.
In the Kumite competition, Waddell scored one and a half points against George to emerge the winner.
Before the event commenced, the welcome address was given by Chief Instructor of JKA/WF Guyana Sensei Christopher Chaves.
The address was followed by a special award presentation to Maleyha Joseph who received the Master Gichin Funakoshi Trophy for commitment to achieving guiding principles of character, sincerity, effort, etiquette and self-control.
The Chief Judge was Chaves, and the referees were Sensei Marvin Singh and Sensei Jennifer Cyrus.
Spectators were treated to a high level of competition in addition to breathtaking and highly skilled demonstrations.
The closing address was given by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports Alfred King. He also distributed trophies along with Bernice Irving, Secretary of the Guyana Karate Federation (GKF).
Meanwhile the JKA/WF Guyana said it would like to thank all sponsors, supporters, volunteers, judges, and the National Sports Commission for the use of the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall.
The full results of the Championships are as follows:
Boys & Girls 5-6 Years Kata
1st Place: Kristalia Chaves
2nd Place: Shaun Singh
3rd Place: Renaldo Beaton
Boys & Girls 5-6 Years Kumite
1st Place: Sheldon Wills
2nd Place: Shaun Singh
3rd Place: Kristalia Chaves
Boys 7-8 Years Kata
1st Place: Damian Kerry
2nd Place: Devindra Raghubansi
3rd Place: Jordon Denny
Boys 7-8 Years Kumite
1st Place: Jordon Denny
2nd Place: Isaac Plummer
3rd Place: Damian Kerry
Boys 9-11 Years Kata
1st Place: Tyresse Souvenir
2nd Place: Javon Fraser
3rd Place: Kyle Minoo
Boys 9-11 Years Kumite
1st Place: Akil Vaughn
2nd Place: Javon Fraser
3rd Place: Kyle Minoo
Girls 8-11 Years Kata
1st Place: Mathulde Saint-Lot
2nd Place: Evita Rodrigues
3rd Place: Maleyha Joseph
Girls 8-11 Years Kumite
1st Place: Maleyha Joseph
2nd Place: Evita Rodrigues
3rd Place: Mathulde Saint-Lot
Boys 12-13 Years Kata
1st Place: Dominic Kerry
2nd Place: Randolph Singh
3rd Place: Kevin Minoo
Boys 12-13 Years Kata
1st Place: Kevin Minoo
2nd Place: Nikhel Persaud
3rd Place: Randolph Singh
Boys 14-16 Years Kata
1st Place: Prince Roberts
2nd Place: Montel Trotman
3rd Place: Kevin Hawker
Boys 14-16 Years Kumite
1st Place: Montel Trotman
2nd Place: Kevin Chin
3rd Place: Prince Roberts
Female 18+ Kata
1st Place: Claire Cheeks
2nd Place: Nikita Clark
3rd Place Tamika Nicholas
Female 18+ Kumite
1st Place: Claire Cheeks
2nd Place: Nikita Clark
3rd Place: Tamika Nicholas
18+ Male Kata
1st Place: Christopher Waddell
2nd Place: Marlon George
3rd Place: Mahendranauth Sanichar
Male 18+ Kumite
1st Place: Christopher Chaves
2nd Place: Marlon George
3rd Place: Mahendranauth Sanichar