Local competitors in karate will be heading to Ottawa for a national competition after taking part in a qualifying karate tournament in Weyburn on Saturday, hosted by the Vilcu Karate Klub.
There were around 160 competitors from 19 clubs, coming from across Saskatchewan along with Manitoba, Alberta and North Dakota, with 30 competitors from the host Vilcu club.
Sensei Harold Vilcu is a member of the World Karate Commission of Canada, and the top placements in black belt are eligible to advance to the nationals to be held May 19-21 in Ottawa.
Isaac Vilcu of Weyburn, a black-belt instructor for the Vilcu club, won one of five grand championships awarded at the tournament, for all-round black belt. Trena Rooks was the only other Saskatchewan athlete who won a grand championship in the brown belt category.
The athletes who are going to compete at nationals include Darcy and Pam Gunnlaugson and their son Darson, Kathy LaFrance and Rooks.
Accompanying them will be Harold and his daughter Jocelyn to help coach them. Also qualifying from the tournament was Carlos Perez of Oxbow, who competes in another club.
