By Luke Voogt
Drysdale concreter Samuel Shields has defeated younger brother Gabriel to win his fifth open middleweight title at the Kyokushin Karate State Finals in Geelong.
“They started at opposite ends of the draw and both worked their way to the final,” Victorian Kyokushin Karate Association Shihancho and event organiser Gary Viccars said.
“I reckon that’s the first time I’ve seen two brothers fight in the final of a knockdown tournament.
“They fought like they hated each other, which they obviously don’t. No one gets it easy with us.”
The Shields’ younger sister Lily won the female colts division while younger brother Nate won the under-12s.
Samuel’s girlfriend Ligha Adams came second in the open women’s lightweight division, while Bannockburn local Jacinta Maloney won the female open heavyweight title.
One hundred and forty three competitors from as far north as Townsville, south as Burnie and west as Adelaide competed in the tournament last Sunday at Geelong Arena.
The event drew a live crowd of 320, with 430 more people live-streaming the tournament throughout the day.
Of those, four per cent watched from overseas, according to Viccars.
