Local competitors in karate will be heading to Ottawa for a national competition after taking part in a qualifying karate tournament in Weyburn on Saturday, hosted by the Vilcu Karate Club.
There were around 160 competitors from 19 clubs, coming from across Saskatchewan along with Manitoba, Alberta and North Dakota, with 30 competitors from the host Vilcu club.
Sensei Harold Vilcu is a member of the World Karate Commission of Canada, and the top placements in black belt are eligible to advance to the nationals to be held May 19-21 in Ottawa.
The Estevan-area athletes include Darcy and Pam Gunnlaugson and their son Darson, Kathy LaFrance and Trena Rooks. Accompanying them will be Harold and his daughter Jocelyn to help coach them. Also qualifying was Carlos Perez of Oxbow.
Rooks won one of five grand championships awarded at the tournament for brown belt, and Isaac Vilcu was only other Saskatchewan competitor to also win this, for all-round black belt.
Estevan’s Katelyn Zukewich, also with the Vilcu club, placed fourth in the 10-11 year-old kata.
