TAEKWONDISTS RAISE £4000 FOR SCHOOL


(Caption): Ceri Sutherland (left) at the school in South Africa

By Phil Doherty

A CHARITY auction held to help buy new classrooms for a school in a poverty-stricken part of South Africa has raised more than £3,500.

Doctor Ceri Sutherland, 42, of Littlehoughton, near Alnwick, Northumberland, held the event to raise cash for the school her son Louis, eight, went to while the family worked at the local hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.

With schools in South Africa relying on families to pay fees, they struggle with basics such as decent classrooms, books and teachers’ wages.

Ceri, who works  and her husband Dr Riaan Swanepoel, 42, both Taekwondoists, moved to the KwaZulu-Natal in 2008 to help at the local Manguzi hospital, near KwaNgwanase, which has huge problems with Aids and HIV among the local population.

More than 40 people attended the event which was held in Rock Village Hall, Rock, Northumberland on Wednesday 9th July.

Ceri said: "We started with South African snacks and drinks followed by a short presentation from me about John Wesley Kosi Bay school and the area it is in.

"Jim Railton started the auction and gave a spectacular demonstration of how to sell anything with flare, much to everyone’s enjoyment.

"Friends helped with money collecting and waitering and all declared themselves to have had a most entertaining evening whilst raising funds for the school.

"I am particularly grateful for the support I received from the parents of Rock Hall School pupils and the pupils themselves along with Mrs Bosanquet, the headmistress.

"I have had offers of support for future events and all in all feel very optimistic about reaching the 1stgoal of building a further classroom for the pupils of the school."

Ceri and her husband decided to help the school fund new classrooms because, with schools in South Africa relying on families to pay fees, they desperately need funds for basics such as decent classrooms, books and teachers’ wages.

John Wesley Kosi Bay School has a long term ambition of building 16 more classrooms to cope with the increasing numbers of enrolments, two new toilet blocks, a media centre, sports field, cricket nets, covered area for crèche, staff accommodation, a school hall, and a tuckshop for the children.

The school currently teaches its pupils in old portable buildings left over from an old road construction project.

There is a lot of HIV in the local population with around one in three pregnant women infected.

Parents take their children's education very seriously in the area and there now 660 learners now on its enrolment. But the school is in desperate need of new buildings to help develop and give the children in the area the best possible start in education they can provide.

John Wesley Kosi Bay School has 24 full-time dedicated teachers, and six assistants - who all take substantially less in salaries than in state schools -  and gap year students.
Ceri and Riaan plan further fundraising activities to raise cash for the school.

See Feature Two for previous reports...

(Caption) From left, DFM Reivers Dave Brown, head instructor Rob Currah, Liam "The Hybrid" Holborn and Sean Phillips

By Phil Doherty

TOP DFM Reiver fighter Liam Holborn has returned again from competition victorious.

Liam won the heavyweight division gold medal at the No-Gi Grappling championships held at Castleview Sports Centre, Sunderland, on Sunday.

Also fighting was Reiver Sean Phillips and a team from Alnwick’s San Shou Chinese Kickboxing and MMA club.

Both teams will next be fighting at the Cage Fight Night held at Morpeth on July 10^th.

Liam said: "The fighters were all strong, very good technicians in the art of grappling so it was a tough competition.

"I had watched my opponent’s earlier fights and he liked to shoot in and go for the takedown.

"So I decided to let him come to me because I’ve got a good strong sprawl defence and I used that against him.

"No-Go grappling is different to mixed martial arts ground fighting as its more relaxed and you have more time to go through transitions and apply techniques.  

"Although I was very happy to have won the heavyweight division, no-one was a shocked as me that I did it at the first No-Gi competition I’ve entered.

"Sportssense Nutrition and Russell Holborn Mechanical Services have helped me enormously to prepare for the fight and without their support I would not have won gold."

The contest had weight categories ranging from bantamweight up to super-heavyweight.

One of the biggest and best No-Gi competitions in the UK, it sees hundreds of top ju-jitsu, grapplers and MMA exponents compete against each other under no-strike rules.

Opponents can win by a submission or through points awarded for holding a technique in place for more than three seconds, takedowns, passing the guard or gaining a dominate position such as the mount.

Reiver Sean Phillips put a good display of fighting holding his opponent to a stalemate right up to the end of the bout where he lost on points. His opponent then went on to semi-finals.

DFM Reiver head instructor Rob Currah said: “Liam has shown yet again that he is a top fighter at whatever rules he competes under.

"Sean was unlucky in drawing one of the top fighters in the competition but he did the team really proud by the excellent display he put up. Well done to both of them."

The Reivers fight out of the Alnwick School of Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts, based at Lee Moor, Alnwick.

The San Shou fighters Glen Robson, Jack Cook and Matthew Bell also just missed out on the medals with the team putting up some brilliant fights against more experienced opponents.

San Shou head coach Shaun Gaines said: “Although the lads didn’t make the medal table this time they really put their hearts into it and with the spirit they displayed on Sunday its clear they have a great future in the sport. They all did the club proud.”

The San Shou Chinese Kickboxing and MMA Club train at the Willowburn Sports Centre. To join the classes contact Shaun on 07890 263918.

DFM Reivers MMA club train at the Alnwick School of Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts, Lee Moor, near Rennington, Alnwick, Northumberland on Mondays Wednesdays and Friday, under 16, 6pm - 7pm; Seniors 7 - 8.30; and Sunday Mornings 9.30am - 11am.
Boxing training: Saturday mornings 10 am - 11.30.

To find out more about DFM Reivers:

Phone head instructor Robert Currah: 01665 510634

or email: robert@currah35.wanadoo.co.uk

Facebook: Alnwick School of Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts

(Caption)  THe NSWA uses foam swords so competitors can fight safely

By Phil Doherty

"This is an opportunity to train with the founders of the NSWA, in this brand new action packed safe sport."

The seminar is being held at The Parks Leisure Centre, Howdon Road, North Shields, from 1pm to 4pm.

It costs £10 per participant.

The NSWA was set up last year by Andy Crittenden, the Martial Arts Centre, Colin Beddow and Tony MacDonald, East Meets West Black Belt Academy, and Rick Burns, Burns School of Black Belts.

Participants use foam safety swords and score points wearing protective head gear. As well as swords the association uses foam staffs and double sticks

For further information please call.

Mr. Burns – 07841 353 453

Mr. Beddow - 07946 755 262  

Mr. Crittenden - 07977 468 007