Nearly 400 TUNZ competitors gathered in Palmerston North for the national championships, which were superbly hosted for the first time by the Manawatu club.

Four mats were used in unison at the Arena Manawatu to smoothly stage around 250 bouts plus forms competitions.

There were divisions catering for all taekwondo competitors from juniors to veterans in the championships which were restricted to clubs affiliated to the TUNZ.

The special guest was the president of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Shihan Dave Miller, 6th Dan jiu jitsu, who is pictured with TUNZ president Matt Ransom.

TUNZ president Matt Ransom, right, with Dave Miller, Jiu jitsu 6th Dan and president of the NZ Martial Arts Hall of Fame, at the National Champs, Palmerston North, September 18, 2004

In the senior black belt divisions Auckland's Carl Van Roon, 20, won the middle weight division with an 8-1 win over Waikite Apiata from Kawerau's Mt Putauaki.

Dafydd Sanders, also 20 and from Auckland, won the heavyweight title with a 5-0 over Kapiti's Paul Bingham, with Mike Murray, the 1999 heavyweight champion, taking bronze.

The Auckland club also won the two lighter weight women's divisions with Mei Zhi Ho, 20, defeating

Maria Chandrahasen of Hutt City on superiority in the flyweight division while Leanne Stoutley beat Titahi Bay's Tanya Tito in the bantamweight division.

Defending women's featherweight champ Aroha Miller from the Christchurch Olympic club beat Hutt City's Tracey Coleman in their final.

In the men's lightweight division Christchurch's Alan Brian also successfully defended his lightweight title over with an 8-6 win over Auckland's Steve Anderson.

In the hotly contested welterweight division, two Christchurch fighters fought for gold, with New Brighton's Shane Philpott defeating last year's champion Danny Cartilidge with a last second turning kick, 9-8.

Auckland's Carwyn Sanders, 18, beat 2000 champion Glen Robinson, 27, 9-8 for bronze.

Karori's Farah Robinson retained her New Zealand welterweight title with a 15-9 win over Auckland's Paula Lyons.

Josh Lloyd, 17, from Manawatu's Ashhurst club fought back from a 5-0 deficit to win the men's featherweight title on superiority over Wellington veteran Dave

Aldridge, 39, the winner of 13 national titles.

And the host Manawatu club's Hope Fairless, 17, also had a superiority win, retaining her heavyweight title over 2000 winner Kathy Bell, 24.

TUNZ national championships, Arena Manawatu

Saturday September 18, 2004

Black belt results:

Men

Lightweight

1. Alan Brian (Christchurch)
2. Steve Anderson (Auckland)
3. Timothy Ellis (Blenheim)

Featherweight

1. Josh Lloyd (Ashhurst)
2. Dave Aldridge (Wellington)

Welter

1. Shane Philpott (New Brighton)
2. Danny Cartilidge (Christchurch Olympic)
3. Carwyn Sanders (Auckland)

Middle

1. Carl Van Roon (Auckland)
2. Waikite Apiata (Mt Putauaki)
3. Matt Barrett (Hawera)

Heavyweight

1. Dafydd Sanders (Auckland)
2. Paul Bingham (Kapiti)
3. Mike Murray (Tawa)

Veteran welter

1. Swee Han Lim (Auckland)
2. Graham Silkstone (Hamilton)
3. Paul Birkin (Ashurst)

Heavyweight

1. Michael Hannah (New Plymouth)
2. Mark Tester (Karori)
3. Paul Bingham (Kapiti)

Women

Fly

1. Mei Zhi Ho (Auckland)
2. Maria Chandrahasen (Hutt City)

Bantam

1. Leanne Stoutley (Auckland)
2. Tanya Tito (Titahi Bay)

Feather

1. Aroha Miller (Christchurch )
2. Tracey Coleman (Hutt City)

Welter

1. Farah Robinson (Karori)
2. Paula Lyons (Auckland)

Heavy

1. Hope Fairless (Manawatu)
2. Kathy Bell (Hawkes Bay)
3. Simone Po (Tawa)