Karate in Leeds

GERMANY 2007

The best ever' - just one of the many comments made on our return to England following the regular excursion to Ganderkesee, Germany in May 2007. Although undoubtedly one of the best ever this was a trip tinged with sadness. Few appropriate employment opportunities in Germany and England has forced our good friend and excellent karateka, Thorsten Windhorst, to sell his house and move with his family to New Zealand.

This year twenty seven of us, twenty-four from Kaizen MAA and three from Nakama Do SKC were collected at approx 5am for a journey to Stansted Airport. It was pleasing that Rebecca and Hanna from Dave McNalus' club joined us this year. We feel sure that they will support Dave's regular assertions at his club about the value of this visit. Their enthusiasm and energy was infectious.

The initial trip had been scheduled for 12mn but Ryanair's scheduled changed and with it meant our plans had changed. Although inconvenient for us, it was even more inconvenient for Thorsten, his friends and family who had made the usual efficient preparations for us on the first day. As usual they adapted to these changes with a smile of their faces. We arrived at Bremen airport slightly behind schedule where we were greeted by Thorsten, Jacqui and Jessica who immediately issued huge packs of 'goodies' to which they almost made a veiled reference to a quiz later in the week. They also presented me with a large bottle of champagne having remembered my birthday the day before.

We arrived at the hotel with instructions to 'dump' our cases and be back on the bus within 3 minutes. Some of us made it in 2, others thought Thorsten was kidding - he wasn't!. The accommodation arrangements at the hotel meant that this year poor Lynne and Claire shared the same balcony as Julie and I. No chance to hide then!

Our first events were the BBQ and games. Even though the heavens opened this didn't stop either. The BBQ was excellent with food and drink appearing in all directions.

The games were a mixture of skill (ha ha) and pure good luck designed to embarrass all that competed, but compete they did, and thoroughly deserved any accolade they received.

The winning team was led by Tobias and when the results were announced at the end of the night you would be forgiven for thinking they'd just won the Olympic games, such was their jubilation. The fun and games ended with a sing song around a camp fire.

Our journey back to the hotel was made by torchlight. It's only 5 km so enabled us to walk off the overindulgence! The picture shows one of the lamp carriers (David R) who possibly believed that his goal in life was to light the Olympic Torch.