By DAN BARNES Gazette Staff Writer December 4, 1985
Corey Somers may never have to deliver a killing blow on the street.
It’s enough that he knows he can. The 16-year-old hard contact karate orange belt delivered a crushing roundhouse kick to the head of his much bigger opponent to win the yellow/orange belt division at the First Canadian Koshiki tourney last weekend in Montreal.
Somers, about 5′ 8″, was trailing his 6′ 2″ rival for gold 3-1 with just 30 seconds left in the fight before hitting with an epon or “killing blow” that automatically gave him the win. It was the first time he’d won by epon.
But it marked his second major victory after winning his division at the St. Albert tournament in June, hosted by his club and Sensei George Manoli.
Somers fought in Montreal alongside club members Philip Watland, a 30-year-old second level green belt and Ellen Caouette, a 28-year-old brown belt, one of just three senior women at the tournament.
She won both fights to claim the title, beating two black belt fighters, one of which is a fierce rival.
With a roundhouse kick in extra time Caouette downed Cathy Bernard 4-3. Bernard won the heavyweight black belt title at the AllAustralia Championships in September and was on the Canadian team at that tournament. She had also beaten Caouette 6-2 earlier this year.
“I was worried about her,” said Caouette, who admitted the winning blow “happened so fast” she had tr0″1ble putting it together in her mind. But she expected to finish high and was disappointed she could fight so few bouts.
So was Watland who won his first two matches and lost to Paul Gagne of Montreal in his third bout. Gagne was also on the Canadian team in Australia and has been recommended for his black belt.
“If there is a consolation the person that succeeded in beating me went on to win” the green/brown belt class, said Watland.
Manoli, who said the three fighters were in the top six of his. 45-member club, was pleased with the success, saying it ranks his club nationally and gains everyone in it a measure of respect.