Derry represented in Team Northern Ireland WKC World Championships in Portugal

Derry will have five representatives at the WKC World Championships in Portugal for Team Northern Ireland, comprised of 12 athletes.

These competitors fight and train out of the Mickey-Finns Karate & Kickboxing Academy in the city, but will fly out to Albufeira on October 27 for the weigh-ins before competing across the week, with the competition wrapping up on November 1.

President of Team Northern Ireland, Michael Bradley, is confident in his squad, leaving a lasting impression on the competition.

He said: “It is always a great moment and one of pride for each competitor who has worked hard locally and nationally this year to get on this team. 

“Being totally honest, there is nobody on this team that does not have a chance of getting on the podium, whether they are going to get gold, silver, or bronze; that is where you have to wait and see what the competition is like then.

“The training is done now; they are ready to go; it is about how they perform on the day, which will decide their outcome.”

Bradley and his wife Finneen (Vice President of Team Northern Ireland) coach the Mickey-Finns Karate & Kickboxing Academy and bring 43 years and 25 years of martial arts experience, respectively, to this Northern Irish squad.

Finneen has seven world titles to his name and looks to pass her knowledge onto the current squad.

The Derry contingent of the squad includes Mikey Bradley (junior boys under 12), Blake McFarland (junior boys under 12), Lucas McFarland (junior boys under 14), Harry Healy (junior boys under 10), and Cloidna Conway (senior ladies plus 65 kg).

Michael Bradley said: “Starting with the youngest with Harry Healy, he has only started competing this year, and I’ve been coaching a long time, and only three times in my whole career have brought beginners to championships because although Harry is a novice fighter, he has got extreme skill, and for such a young boy, he is already an athlete. 

“He is an allrounder, winning every tournament he has entered this year, locally and nationally. 

“Mikey Bradley, my son, was a previous world number two, and he was beaten in the finals before by a very sharp Canadian fighter.

“So I am hopeful for Mikey to medal this year too, but obviously he is shooting for gold if his mind is in the right place. 

“Cloidna Conway is one of my senior ladies, but only 19. This girl has got inspector gadget legs; she can kick from any direction, and her kicking ability is just unreal.

“She had been out of the sport for a while, but she is back and pushing strong, and I would be hopeful of a podium. 

"Finally, we have two brothers, who are just incredible for us. Both novice fighters are going to represent their national team at the advanced level, Blake and Lucas McFarland. 

“These guys just come into our dojo, just wanting to learn. They are sponges; they soak up anything you teach them. They take it in, they use it, and they progress every single session.

“I am excited to see what these boys can do at the event.”

While Bradley is confident of his squad, particularly the Derry contingent, he is aware of the talent in the other squads.

He said: “I have been a part of many national governing bodies over the past 20 or 30 years, but this particularly WKKC has shown me they have the strongest competition; there are a lot of very strong and fierce athletes.

“I say athletes, as they are not just fighters; they are athletes, with the WKKC producing the best talent.

“But from the last two years of seeing competitors at this, the South Americans are always ones to be fancied. They are at the top of their game and will always be there or thereabouts.

“Team England is always incredibly sharp as well, so there are never any walkovers, but we have four of our squad, which I am certain will be world champions.”

Bradley is excited to see how his Northern Ireland team gets on, but is more excited for the opening ceremony.

He said: “The opening ceremony is a massive event, quite similar to the Olympics, where each country will come into the venue waving their flag and banners with the team members in their national tracksuits. It is an incredible feeling for each competitor to be part of that.”

Bradley will have his hands full across the tournament as he looks to guide his squad to a successful competition, hoping to create a number of world champions.

However, he will also have some other ambitions too.

He said: “I will be competing myself this year.

“I’m in better condition than I have been in much of the last 20 years, and I’m mentally in the right place. I am fighting well, and I’m kicking well, so I am hopeful to get on the podium.

“So, I’m competing in the veterans; it is 48 years plus.”

The competition is available to stream every day live on sportmartialsarts.com.