At the recent SKIF national championships held in Moyle Rovers sports complex, Dylan Sullivan won the All-Ireland National senior blackbelt kumite (sparring) title! The most coveted title for men in karate and the longest running national karate championships in Ireland! The same trophy his father won exactly 20 years previously and certainly one Dylan has eyed for many years now!
In a bit of a fairytale, Dylan had major heart surgery only 18 month previously. So to get back to fitness, qualify for the national squad and then win this overall title, truly is a momentous achievement! In the grand champion division (all men over 18) Dylan met his club mate and cousin Adam Whitney in the semi-final, and then his other club mate Sean Corbett in the final. Which bodes well for the club Tora-kan!
The winning didn't stop there with several club teammates also winning national titles in their category with Stephen Whitney winning masters kata, Adam Whitney winning the u21 title, Luke Whitney winning the U16 title and Oliver Stockil winning the 11-12 boys title. There were medal placings for Abbie Brett, Emma Ryan, Sean Corbett, Sebastian Stockil, John O'Brien and Benigna O'Brien, who all showed great spirit in their efforts
