Tom Pritchard & Todd Flanagan Exchange Blows
Saturday 13th October saw the second “Fight Night” run by the Shaolin Fist Chinese Boxing Association. The S.F.C.B.A is a multi-style association with martial arts clubs based around the country. The event drew fighters from throughout the multi style S.F.C.B.A and included representatives from Kung-fu, Karate, and Kick Boxing.
The evening started with the points sparring section which consisted of four fights, each of which was of three 2 minute rounds. However if a fighter won the first two rounds the third was not fought.
The first fight was the junior girls category, and saw 12 year old British Quingda champion Samantha Davies take on regular circuit fighter, 12 year old Rebecca Pritchards. The first two rounds saw good fast kicking to the body from Rebecca, being countered by solid reverse punching and overhead hammer fists from Sam. This produced an even contest with both rounds being scored at 6-6. The final round saw Sam open the scoring, but two excellent roundhouse kicks to the head prevented the lead from opening. The fighters were matching each other point for point until Samantha’s greater experience eventually opened a lead to win round three by 11points to 7.
Fight two had the adults making an appearance, with Shaun Gains from the Sil Lum Kune kick boxing club in Northumbria taking on James Young from the Coventry Sil Lum Kune Kung Fu club. James who is still in his first year of training showed excellent hand and leg speed throughout the fight, but the greater experience of Shaun, a bronze medallist in the north of England championships, brought him a win in two rounds.
Fight three had 14 year old British Quingda champion and UK points champion Todd Flanigan-Jones, take on defending fight night champ, 13 year old Nathan Hill, a fifth place finisher in last years WUMA World Championships in Sicily. Round one saw Nathan demonstrating good blitzing techniques that eventually took him to a narrow 6-5 win. Round two had both fighters matching each other point for point as they tried to work each other out and led to an 8-8 draw. The deciding round proved to be a tactical battle with Nathan being very evasive from the advancing Todd to take the overall victory.
The final points event had the 6’7” 3 x Quingda British Champion Steve Webb take on local Karate man Duncan Jackson, a 2 x British and 8 x Midlands sparring champion. The first round saw a fast start by Duncan as he slipped inside Steve’s guard to take the round 8 points to 5. The second round again had Duncan working inside Steve’s guard and drew cheers from the crowd as he fired off a sidekick to Steve’s head, to take the round and the fight 8 points to 3.
Following the interval, the fights switched to a light continuous format with each fight also being fought over three 2 minute rounds.
The first fight saw Shaun Gains again on the mat taking on the 2000 British Quingda champion William Burbury. The first round had Shaun attacking with lots of strong punching and seeming much more at ease with the continuous format where he could let the techniques flow. The second round had more of the same with good defensive work from both fighters, but Shaun taking the lead to win the fight within the second round.
The two junior girls, Sam Davies and Rebecca Pritchards again took to the mat, but this time in the light continuous format. Sam seemed much more comfortable in this style and after a slightly one sided fight secured a fairly easy win.
Fight seven had 14 year old Tom Pritchards taking on Todd Flanigan-Jones. This fight saw both lads come out for the first round with all guns blazing, trading punches at a frantic pace, with Tom narrowly taking the round. The second round again saw a frenetic pace, with both the fighters getting carried away and being warned for excessive contact. Todd eventually won this round as he brought some impressive kicking and evasive skills into play. Round three again saw both fighters keen to win and being warned for excessive contact. This round was scored a draw which therefore tied the fight at one round each. An extra round of one minute was fought to decide the winner, which had Tom attacking relentlessly to eventually take the win. The spectators were later to vote this bout the fight of the evening.
The final fight had Duncan Jackson taking on Tom and Rebecca’s father, Mark Pritchards. The first round had Duncan attacking strongly, with Mark using a good array of techniques to try and hold him off. The second round brought the only injury of the night with Mark stumbling following a body kick, to land heavily and twist his ankle. He bravely got up to finish the fight, which Duncan won in two rounds.
Overall the event was a major success and helped raise money to buy more mats for use in the Sil Lum Kune clubs. The only disappointment of the evening was the late cancellation of the middleweight bouts due to the defending champion Martin Scott being unable to fight after being involved in a minor car accident. Our thanks go to all the people who came along to support the event, the officials, and to the staff of the Exhall East Community Centre for providing an excellent buffet during the interval.
Winners With Their Trophies
Results
Girls points sprarring Samantha Davies (Sil Lum Kune Kung Fu)
Mens lightweight points sparring Shaun Gains (Sil Lum Kune Kickboxing)
Boys points sparring Nathan Hill (Sil Lum Kune Kung Fu)
Mens heavyweight points sparring Duncan Jackson (Seiken Jutsu Karate)
Mens lightweight continuous Shaun Gains (Sil Lum Kune Kickboxing)
Girls continuous Samantha Davies (Sil Lum Kune Kung Fu)
Boys continuous Tom Pritchard (Sil Lum Kune Kung Fu)
Mens heavyweight continuous Duncan Jackson (Seiken Jutsu Karate)
Officials
Alan Hill, Arron Marsh, David Richardson, Taryn Elwell, Kevin Redgrave and Sifu Paul Burkinshaw.
Reported by Kevin Redgrave