Pair in last bid for glory

KICK IT: The Wanganui fighters who will compete at the Kyokushin Karate Nationals this Sunday. Sam Laurie (left), Ryan Trevor-Roper, Pete Parson, Chris Sheahon, Samantha McMillan (front), Richard Hood, Brian Alderton, Aweri Blakely. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 201013WCBRCKA02

For two of Wanganui's great karate champions, Labour weekend's Sunday will be their last hurrah at the Kyokushin Karate Nationals in Wellington.

A strong Wanganui contingent of eight fighters will be attending the tournament, headed by heavyweight Pete Parson and middleweight Richard Hood, with a combined 25 New Zealand titles between them.

Parson won the the heavyweight crown for the fifth consecutive time last year with his 13 championships moving him one title ahead of Hood, who has competed sporadically since 2008 after taking a "sabbatical" in 2006.

After competing at eight straight nationals, Parson said this would be his last.

He intends to travel to the Australian nationals as well, before going to compete in Japan and in Europe, his focus being a big tournament in Belgium.

Having done everything in karate domestically, Parson said he has been looking to get into more kickboxing in the future.

Despite having attended eight annual national karate tournaments in a row, Parson said he still gets those big fight nerves. "It doesn't change, every tournament seems to be the same. You still get nervous exactly the same as the first one, just develop the experience to deal with it."

For Hood, competing at middleweight this is also his final attempt to claim another New Zealand title.

"This is my last, my old coach is hosting the tournament Mike Kenworthy."

However, to quote Rocky Balboa, Hood still has that "stuff in the basement" the desire to compete and said he is looking to get a kickboxing match when the next River City Rumble event is held in Wanganui.

"I've been fighting for years and it's what I do, I can't help it."

The spotlight will therefore begin to shift to the next generation as two other champions in Brian Alderton and Ryan Trevor-Roper look to win another national crown at middleweight and lightweight respectively.

Also looking to do well are Aweri Blakely (heavyweight), Chris Sheahon and Sam Laurie (middleweight), along with Samantha McMillan (women's open).

"It's a really good team, we've got a really good range of people," said Parson.

The nationals will be held at St Patrick's College gymnasium in Kilbirnie this Sunday.