Photos: Sergio Betancort
The Poliarrecife Club won four medals in the Canary Islands Children's Karate Championship held last Saturday, March 19 at the facilities of the Lanzarote Sports City, in Arrecife. A total of 10 karatekas from the Poliarrecife Club participated in the different categories and all of them culminated with a meritorious performance.
More than 300 karatekas from all the islands gathered at this Canary Islands Karate Championship in the Benjamin, Alevín, Infantil and Youth categories. This is the most important event in the autonomous region for these categories.
One of the podiums for the Poliarrecife Club was achieved in the men's Benjamin kata category. Gael Guadalupe Barreto was proclaimed runner-up of the Canary Islands, while his clubmate, Alejandro García Abdul, obtained bronze medals in the men's Alevín kata and men's Alevín kumite, in 30 kilos. For his part, Juan Carlos López Tavora won his bronze medal in the men's youth kumite, in 50 kilos.
Arbitration course
Also on the occasion of this championship, the Canary Islands Karate Federation carried out an arbitration course in Lanzarote taught by the Arbitration Director of said Federation, Eliseo Díaz, which was attended by 17 karatekas from the karate clubs of the Island. Eight of them to qualify as new karate referees, while nine to update their arbitration qualification.
Among the new referees are two members of the Poliarrecife Club, Rafael Santiago Vargas and Antonio Santiago Carmona. From the club they have assured that without a doubt "the training provided will improve the level of arbitration in Lanzarote and, therefore, the level of our competitions and competitors".
The Poliarrecife club has karatekas of all ages and currently carries out its training in the Fuertegym facilities, under the direction of the national coach José Antonio Lasso.