Trio chop to a win

By Marc McGowan
HAMPTON Park karate siblings Brooke, Nic and Corey Borchard are at it again.
The trio has combined to win an astonishing 21 medals, including 14 gold, three silver and four bronze, in state and national karate competitions over the past month.
All three will fly to Malaysia to compete in the 18th Kobe Osaka International Championships in July, where they will compete against the likes of karate powerhouses Russia and Poland.
They will also represent Victoria at the national championships in South Australia in August.
Nic, 9, has enjoyed the most success with 11 gold medals and one silver from the Victorian Championships, New South Wales Championships and the Australian Open Championships.
“I’ve been doing lots of fun stuff and there are lots of good things happening and I’m having a great year,” the brown belt said.
“I’ve been training really hard to be the best I can. I’ve been training for five years – I really enjoy it.”
Brooke, 8, is the latest member of the family to emerge in karate circles.
She swims, plays tennis and recently came third in her year level in cross-country at Narre Warren South P-12 College, but it is in the martial art that she truly excels.
Brooke racked up three gold and two bronze medals over the three championships to announce herself as a serious talent.
“The best thing is you get to have fun with your friends,” Brooke said
“I didn’t think I would go that well. I have my purple belt and next is brown belt. I’m getting that in August and I’m looking forward to that.”
Corey, 13, has also amassed an impressive collection of trophies and medals over the years, including two silver and two bronze from the recent events.
But he is in awe of his younger brother and sister.
“It’s kind of scary because one second I see them playing PlayStation and the next second they’re winning gold medals. I’m very proud of them,” Corey said.
“I don’t give them advice – they give me advice, especially Nicholas. I do try and help them, though.”
Corey already boasts a preparationary black belt, but the honour will become official in August.
“Every day I’m improving in everything I do,” he said.
“When I first started it was a little bit easier, but when you get up to this level it gets so much harder to improve because everything is basically correct.
“But you can always be stronger or faster.”
Mother Kathy is proud of all of her children’s achievements, but singled out Corey for special praise.
“I see a lot of kids around here at his age wandering the streets and they get nothing out of it,” she said.
“But Corey is at a place where he’s seriously considering going to the navy when he’s 18 and having karate is a huge plus.”
Kathy and her husband, Justin, will accompany their children to Malaysia and the airfares are expected to cost around $4500.
If anyone is interested in sponsoring the Borchards, the News can be contacted on 5945 0666.