HIGH KARATE!

THE karate kids made a clean sweep of the Sunderland Sports Fund award night, taking all four of the top honours on offer.

Houghton’s Holly Sterling was named Sportswoman of the Year for the achievement of currently being ranked number one nationally and in the top four at international level.

Holly is British champion, a title which she has held for the last six years, and picked up a medal when representing England in the World Karate Championships recently.

Sportsman of the Year was 15- year- old Bailey Baker, a student at Red House Academy who trains at East Durham Ishinryu.

Bailey has had a very successful year, taking bronze in the BKF England National Championship held in April, silver at the Scottish International Championships in June and bronze in the BKF & Nations Championships in July.

He has been selected to represent England at the World Junior Karate Championships in Guadalajara in Spain.

The Sportsperson with Disability award went to 16- year- old Ryan Spencer who, although suffering from a rare bone condition, competes in able- bodied competitions.

The member of the Sendai Kushiro Karate club is the National Kuhiyi champion and was chosen as best overall junior competitor at the same finals. He was selected to represent England in the World Karate Championships in Liverpool.

Unsurprisingly, in some respects, the Fund named John Bruce, chief instructor of the Sendai Kushiro Karate Club, as Coach of the Year. He has been a 4th Dan since 2009 and has taken part in competitions all over the world, winning national, European and World titles.

Presenting the awards, Fund chairman Len Ashurst said: “We’re delighted to make these awards to support local sports people who often don’t receive the sort of funding that other more high profile sports get.

“They are worthy winners every one and Wearside can be proud of them.”