Wanliss and Barrows strike for combined team

THE TWO-DAY Jamaica Busta Tae kwon do Open ended at the UTech Auditorium on Sunday, with members of the combined martial arts team dominating the male black-belt division.

Montegonian Alrick Wanliss upset combined teammate Nicholas Dussard in the lightweight final, while Arthur Barrows beat Omar Rose in a close middleweight decider.

Shai Shakura staged a strong rally in the preliminary round of the heavyweight division against Kenneth Edwards, who eventually went on to beat Sean Cummings in the final.

Low female turnout

The tournament attracted more than 300 competitors but the women's division lacked the normal high level of entrants.

However, the high school and junior divisions were well supported and exciting for the first major martial arts tournament of the year, which opened the 2008 Busta League.

Saturday's opening day started with a major upset as newcomers and underdogs Cornwall College took out big favourites Jamaica College in the high school team sparring competition.

The Oshane Murray-led Calabar High saved the day for the Corporate Area teams, beating the Montegonians in the final. However, Cornwall College certainly made a mark for western Jamaica in their first year of competition.

Tashauna Grannum, captain of the junior team set to participate in the Pan-Am juniors in Brazil later this month, showed her class by easily going past her rivals to win the junior female black-belt division.

US Open gold medallist Ashieka Dyer was also in form, winning the red-belt sparring division despite strong opposition.

Jamaica Tae kwon do won the overall team standings.

Tournament sponsor, Paul Shoucair of Jamaica Beverages, said he was proud to have his company's Busta soft-drink product associated with Jamaican martial arts and was pleased with the discipline and high quality displayed throughout.