Cadets kickbox to glory at Canadian Championships

JJ Carolan

Success for the Liberties Kickboxing Academy for Cadets as they return from the World Karate & Kickboxing Championships in Canada with four medals

 

Four members of The Liberties Kickboxing Academy for Cadets returned from the World Karate & Kickboxing Championships in Montreal, Canada, with a bronze medal each, on Tuesday the 9th of October.

Ryan Uzell (14), Lauryn Uzell (12), Roy Stringer (12) and Seamus Lowry-Leeson (11) went to Montreal along with 47 other Irish participants and competed against pugilists from the USA, Canada, Germany and the UK.

All four are very keen to return to the world stage and when asked what their ambitions are, they unanimously declared; “gold”.

“There was a great team atmosphere in Canada and we made many new friends too,” Roy Stringer said.

His father Chris Stringer, who is also the clubs chief instructor, felt the close team dynamics were an essential part of their success.

All four said their favourite part of the 10-day trip was the actual fighting but there was more to it than that.

“I was chatting to the American fella I fought, in the Jacuzzi after our bout, everyone was friendly at the after-party too,” Ryan Uzell said.

The Irish fighters had lots of extra support from the local Canadian crowd too, according to Roy, “they were supporting us when we were fighting the Americans.”

They all train three days a week at St, Catherine’s Sport Centre on Marrowbone Lane and have been based there since May of this year.

“We are very grateful to the people at St Catherine’s who provide us with excellent facilities.” Roy Stringer said.

The families of club members funded the trip to Canada through fund-raising activities and they also received some sponsorship too.

Ryan Uzell recently found out that Chris wants him to go up to the W.A.K.O division (a higher grade). “Hopefully I’ll win gold in that,” he said, unfazed.

Lauryn Uzell, who also won bronze in the under-45 kilo said, “I’m well able to take on the lads, except my brother Ryan of course.”

To qualify for the international competition all four had to come through the Irish stages, which had upwards of 200 competitors.

Chris is also keen to get more local youth involved in the club.

For any information you can attend St Catherine’s on Marrowbone Lane on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s at 7 pm when the club trains.

Image top: JJ Carolan