Evening Advertiser - 8th March 1989

	Higashi champions: (l-r) Paul Taylor, Tim Amey, Paola Marcarella, Anna-Marie Delvecchio, Phil Bentley, Parveen Johal, Trevor McKenzie, David Salmon, Pete Whitney, Joe Tully and eight year old David Payne.

Oasis Club make history

Swindon's Oasis Higashi Club have scored a first in the 12 years history of the national Higashi Karate Kai Association Championships.

At the Birmingham championships, Swindon Oasis won both the team kumite (fighting) and team kata (traditional forms) titles, an unprecedented achievement in the history of the event.

The showpiece kumite final against Bristol Docklands was a particularly exciting affair and saw the Swindon club become national champions by the narrowest of margins.

Richard Godfrey was beaten by a half point in the opening fight but club captain Mark Saloyedof won his match to pull the Oasis level.

Trevor McKenzie battled to a time-limit draw, Phil Bentley narrowly lost and the stage was set for the final fight.

Needing a maximum-point victory, Clive East produced the goods and Swindon had the first of their titles.

The team kata was not as close with Swindon's A team sweeping aside all opposition.

Instructors Phil Bentley (1st dan), Dave Salmon (2nd dan) and captain Paul Taylor (2nd dan) have now held the kata title three times in the past three years.

Paul said: "This was our most rewarding victory as our students took third place, beating clubs from as far afield as Middlesborough and Cardiff."

"It was the best performance I have seen by the club and we are now hoping to keep hold of our double titles."

The club will be staging the second national championships at the Oasis on June 3 and will be then out to defend their record breaking titles.

Oasis's individual winners were: David Salmon (senior kata gold); Sian Rees (senior kata silver); Trevor McKenzie (brown belt kumite); Joe Tully (green belt kumite silver); Paola Marcarela (gir;'s kumite silver); Davy Payne, Carry Payne, Anne-Marie Dellvecchio (Swindon B team - kata Bronze); Clive East (black belt kunite bronze); Tim Amey (kata bronze); Parveen Johal (girl's kumite bronze); Carl Hirthe (orange belt kumite bronze).