Savate Ireland held their 7th Irish Savate Open on the 17th of November attracting 100 competitors from clubs in Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Germany, Belgium and Japan.
Opening the day with children’s matches between Ireland and Northern Ireland there were some outstanding matches to kick things off and to warm the officials up before the adult divisions began in the afternoon.
The athletes were divided into 6 groups: male and female beginners, men over 70kg, men under 70kg, women under 65kg and women over 65kg. As the groups fought their way through to the finals it was London’s James Plaistowe who came through in the men’s lighter weight category to face off against the heavier weight category winner, Ireland’s Andrew Griffin.
It was London versus Ireland again in the ladies with Delphine’s Fremondeau taking the lighter weight and Lorraine O’Malley taking the heavier weight titles.
Stripping the venue down to just one area the crowd were excited to see the final two matches and the tension was palpable as Delphine faced off against Lorraine in the first of the matches. It was an outstanding match but in the end Delphine took the decision to take the title belt in that encounter. In the men’s, Andrew took victory and the belt over James after an impressive assaut where both men gave it their all.
Results from the day were:
Ladies -65kg
1st Fremondeau, Delphine London
2nd Dawson, Laura Guildford
3rd Mitchell, Laura Ireland
3rd McCabe, Olivia Northern Ireland
Ladies +65kg
1st O’Malley, Lorraine Ireland
2nd Alexander, Morgan Cambridge
3rd Giguere, Pascale Ireland
3rd Nanou, Charis London
Ladies Grand Champion Fremondeau, Delphine
Men’s -70kg
1st Plaistowe, James London
2nd Ochiltree, Graham Northern Ireland
3rd Bushaway, George London
3rd Nozaki, Tomohiro Japan
Men’s +70kg
1st Griffin, Andrew Ireland
2nd Southwood, James London
3rd Stindt, Johannes Germany
3rd Fallon, Adam Ireland
Men’s Grand Champion Griffin, Andrew Ireland
Ladies Novice
1st Hartel, Angela London
2nd King, Skye Ireland
3rd Maher, Allison Ireland
3rd McCabe, Maria Northern Ireland
Men’s Novice
1st Leneghan, Michael Northern Ireland
2nd O’Higgins, Niall Northern Ireland
3rd Devaney, Stephen Ireland
3rd Gilvarry, Michael Ireland
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