Karate kids floor their opposition

MARTIAL ARTS

ASHINGTON Karate Club enjoyed belt-ing success at two youth (under-21) competitions.

The Karate Union of Great Britain National Youth Championships were held in Chesterfield.

Competitors from all over the UK and Ireland travelled to Derbyshire to take part in the competition.

Six students from Ashington KC competed - two of them making the finals.

Charlotte Reason, seven, reached the finals of the girls’ novice-fourth kyu kata - ending up fourth in a decider made up of girls aged up to 15.

Denny Shy, 12, was third in the boys’ kumite (fighting) under-5ft category.

He also finished second in the boys’ black belt kata, beating off the challenge of much older and more experienced competitors to make the final.

Closer to home, the club then took part in the Gateshead Youth Championships.

Only six competitors were able to attend this competition due to the majority of the club training in preparation for their grading the following day.

Despite that, Ashington won the most medals of any club on the day and every competitor from the club achieved at least one first place.

Gemma Gibson was victorious in both the female 16-20 kata and kumite categories, teammate Evie Ackroyd second in both of these categories. Shy won the childrens’ brown and black belt kata and finshed second in the boys’ kumite under-5ft category.

Together, the trio claimed the team kata event - after entering with less than five minutes of practice before they had to walk on the mat and perform two katas to make the final and then win the category.

Joel Pollard and Jessica Peel, both 12, won the boys’ kumite 5ft-5ft 5” and girls’ kumite categories respectively.

These disciplines are for competitors between the ages of 12 and 15.

Reason, the youngest competitor in the club, triumphed in the childrens’ novice-fourth kyu kata.

She also took third in the girls’ ippon kumite section - despite facing much older opponents in both disciplines.

At the event’s conclusion, Shy was awarded the Colin Schubert Trophy for Best Overall Competitor - the second year the trophy has gone to a student from Ashington.

Pictured below with their mementos and with sensai Jil Kelly (left) and sensai Andy Sherry (centre) are (left to rght) Evie Ackroyd, Joel Pollard, Denny Shy, Charlotte Reason, Gemma Gibson and Jessica Peel.