Sport
20 April, 2022
Cole selected for Oceania Cup
FUNAKOSHI karate instructor Jill Cole achieved a personal milestone when she was named in the Australian team for the upcoming Oceania Karate Federation’s 2022 Oceania Cup in Noumea, New Caledonia in June.
FUNAKOSHI karate instructor Jill Cole achieved a personal milestone when she was named in the Australian team for the upcoming Oceania Karate Federation’s 2022 Oceania Cup in Noumea, New Caledoniain June.
Cole has been on a run of form this year, winning and placing in numerous events at state and national level over the past
few months.
These recent performances have led to the Terang athlete’s selection for the Australian squad in the veterans kata event at the Oceania Cup, and Cole said she was thrilled to represent her country in Noumea.
“I’m very excited, it’s something I’ve been wanting to do ever since I started getting in to competing,” she said.
“I’m not expecting anything, I’m just enjoying that I got into the team.
“I’ve got no idea what to expect, I’m just excited to go over there and compete, anything else is a bonus.”
Cole has been involved in Funakoshi’s Terang dojo for over a decade, when she walked through the doors with her son and daughter to enrol them in the club, but soon found herself donning a gi and training alongside her children.
Peter Conroy, head instructor at both the club’s Terang and Camperdown dojos, said Cole deserved her place on the squad.
“Jill’s won more medals and awards than the rest of us put together, she’s been incredibly consistent,” he said.
“She has, by example, inspired so many women at our club.
“Young girls, middle-aged girls, mums see her and go, ‘Wow, this is possible for me as a woman of whatever age to not only come and learn a couple of kata and do bit of sparring, but to be competitive at a national level.
“Most karate clubs have a 70/30 mix, 70 per cent guys, 30 per cent ladies, but because of her involvement in Terang it spins the
other way.”
Cole is now just the second person from Funakoshi Australia to represent the nation at the Oceanic championships, and Conroy believes she has every chance to bring home a result.
“At the last event we attended, the National All-Styles in Melbourne, Jill competed in seven events, both veterans and open against 18 and 20 year-olds, and she podiumed in all seven,” he said.
“She’s been getting these results for years, and I think she’s a red-hot shot for a podium finish at the Oceanics.”
Conroy said he could not be more proud of Cole’s selection for the international competition as a representative of the Funakoshi style.
“Funakoshi is tiny, we’ve got five clubs in Australia and we’re what’s called a minor style,” he said.
“With Oceanics, you’re starting to see world class competition, you’re looking at people who are dead-set serious at working towards world championships.
“We want to build students who are better and more proficient than we are, and I think I’ve been successful in that regard with Jill.
“You couldn’t have a better all-rounder.”