The season is all but over for the Battlefords Karate-Do club, but before they hang up their belts for the summer they were in Lloydminster for the 26th annual Genbukai Canada Karate Championships.
The major event hosts over 400 competitors from Western Canada and some stiff competition for all age classes and divisions.
Three of the locals placed in the top three in their two events. James Chipak, an orange belt youth competitor was second in Kata and second in Sparring. Mardelle Hoganson, a women's orange belt rank was also second in both Kata and Sparring. Men's orange belt competitor Greg Tarasoff was third in Kata and third in Sparring.
Christia Iturralde won the lone Kata gold in the white belt youth division.
Brenda Kennedy was first in the women's blue belt division in Sparring.
Gilbert Sayman was also first in white belt junior Sparring.
Larissa Chipak earned a third place medal in Kata at the orange belt youth level.
Battlefords Karate-Do will have representatives back in Lloydminster May 21 for a seminar for all the Genbukai Canada members and the adults will continue to practice once a week during the summer while the youth members will have the summer off and will enjoy the club's windup next week.
