Mount Gambier’s new Wulanda facility hosted the 2023 Karate SA Open over the King’s birthday long weekend with the most successful running of the event post COVID.

National coach Matt Johnson was full of praise for the new facility and the event.

“It exceeded our expectations, we did not realise how good Wulanda was,” Johnson said.

The event is usually held at the Grant High School gym, but this year was hosted at the recently opened Wulanda facility which provided the organisers with a much better set up.

Johnson said the upgraded facility meant the event was able to attract much higher talent than usual which included one category that had six Australian champions participating.

The event also managed to attract some of the most talented young athletes in Australia with five juniors who attended the world championships last year competing in the event.

Johnson said the facility impressed so much it was now being strongly considered as a host for the 2025 national championships, which would be a coup city.

“There is a huge possibility of us hosting the national championships there in 2025, which would be massive for the Mount, as it brings at least 3000 people,” he said.

“We’re starting to look at things now in hopes of booking out the town a year in advance.”

The tournament, which has been held in Mount Gambier for the past 12 years, was used to announce the state team, with the SA side to travel to Perth in August to compete at the national championships.

Johnson was also pleased with the increase in participation from Victoria with an boost in numbers from two teams last year to six this year.

“It drew a lot of attention from the Victorians and had an awesome uptake from there,” he said.

“And it will only get bigger and better.

“The Victorians will bring more teams over next year because the event was such a success.”

It was also the first time a South Australian side has knocked off the Victorians from the top of the medal table.

“The Victorians normally win it, so it was excellent to see the South Australians hold their own,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s team Shingokan Virginia finished the day on top of the medal tally with 27 medals all up.

Local team Shingokan Mount Gambier competed well finishing the day with three bronze medals and ninth overall in the medal tally.

Johnson also was thankful for the help from the community in setting up the event.

“Geoff Rohde and his club Shingokan Mount Gambier supplied the mats free of charge, without that local club we cannot do it,” he said.

Johnson was also pleased with the support from the Mount Gambier City Council and the staff at Wulanda.