Fifteen competitors of the Yorkton Taekwondo club participated at the 2012 Provincial Championships at the Turvey Centre in Regina hosted by Kim's Taekwondo.
There were over 160 competitors from all parts of Saskatchewan.
Wayne Mitchell, Autumn Ashcroft and Francis Bazin coached the Yorkton team.
Andrew Bazin was a referee for the day's proceedings.
There were many significant performances over the weekend. In the colour belt Pee Wee advanced belts were embroiled in many exciting matches.
Daniel Bazin and Zane Chopik had a particular strong division and opponent from Saskatoon. They showed great determination and persistence resulting in a silver for Zane and a Bronze for Daniel.
Tyler Buenneke dominated his division by outscoring his opponents over three matches by almost a 10 to 1 margin. For his young age he is showing a great understanding of the strategy of the game. His ability to score difficult techniques with both left and right feet will make him a force to be reckoned with as he moves up through the ranks and age levels. Tyler claimed gold in both sparring and the pattern divisions.
Kallie Buenneke also had a two medal performance. She also easily outscored her opponents for a gold medal in sparring and a bronze in the pattern division.
Ashley Buenneke had a stellar performance in Girls Midget Advanced patterns to be awarded the silver medal.
Notable performances in the black belt division came from Shane Varjassy, Samuel Lohnes and Kathryn Lohnes. Shane used well placed powerful techniques to end his gold medal match early in the first round. He used his longer legs to great advantage and outscored his opponent.
Kathryn is in her first year in the junior A division but also fought four matches that included adults. She had to beat Regina's senior player, Alisha Triff, in two sudden death matches to come away with the gold medal in Sparring.
The next significant event for the Yorkton competitors is the Iron Fist Challenge in Winnipeg on May 26. Results for Yorkton Taekwondo athletes were: Kathryn Lohnes - Junior A Black Belt Welter Sparring, gold medal; Shane Varjassy - Junior A Black Belt Feather Sparring, gold medal; Samuel Lohnes - Junior A Black Belt Welter Sparring, gold medal; Francis Bazin - Senior Black Belt middle weight Sparring, gold medal; Clark Bazin - Junior A Black Belt Heavy Sparring, gold medal; Eric Fookes - Junior A Black Belt Feather Sparring, bronze medal; Ashley Buenneke - Midget Girls advanced Patterns, silver medal; Tyler Buenneke - Pee Wee Boys Middle advanced Sparring, gold medal and Patterns, gold medal; Zane Chopik, Pee Wee Boys Light Advanced Sparring, silver medal and Patterns, gold medal; Daniel Bazin - Pee Wee Boys Light advanced Sparring, bronze medal; Kallie Buenneke - Pee Wee Girls Light Intermediate Sparring, silver medal and Patterns, bronze medal; Evan Hall, Pee Wee Boys Light Beginner Sparring, bronze medal and Patterns, bronze medal; Janaya Head, Pee Wee Girls Light Beginner Sparring, silver medal; Nathan Head, Midget Boys Light beginner Sparring, gold medal and Patterns, bronze medal; Josiah Head, Midget Boys Middle Beginner Sparring, gold medal and Patterns, bronze medal.
