Karate kids’ course is a grade occasion
MARTIAL ARTS
SEVERAL students and instructors from Ashington Karate Club attended a black and brown belt grading course in Sunderland.
The course was taken by sensei and ninth dan Andy Sherry, senior instructor and grading examiner for the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB), and sensei and eighth dan Billy Higgin.
Following the training for Nathan Lillico, 15, and Jessica Peel, 12, was their black belt grading.
The grading focused on all three aspects of karate – kihon (basics), kata (set forms) and kumite (sparring).
Both students have been working extremely hard over the past two years preparating for this grading and that work paid off when they passed.
Senior club instructor sensei Jill Kelly said: “Any black belt grading is an occasion to be nervous, hopeful but confident in the fact you have put in the training over a long period of time to achieve a good outcome.
“Nathan and Jessica fully deserve their shodan status and we welcome them into the ranks of our black belts - where we will expect them to be ready for a whole new learning experience.”
The grading ends a successful year for the club, with five students passing their black belt this year and a further two gaining senior black belt gradings (third dan and sixth dan).
Ashington Karate Club trains on Saturdays at Ashington Leisure Centre (10.00-11.30) and on Thursdays (6.00-7.00).
Further information is available at www.ashingtonshotokankarate. co.uk or by contacting Jill Kelly on 07930 324 556. DURHAM County Cricket Club are staging their annual under-17 trials at Emirates Riverside on Monday, January 14 and Monday, January 21.
Successful trialists will then be invited to take part in a seven-week training course.
To register your interest, send a cricket CV to becky.cleary@ durhamccc.co.uk.
■■NEWCASTLE Community Football is staging two two-day Christmas coaching courses for six to 14-yearolds on December 27 and 28.
Venues are the Powerleague in Gateshead and Corbridge First School and the cost is £25.
To enrol, e-mail info@ newcastlecommunityfootball.co.uk or ring 0191 264 2015 or 07889 618 718.
■■DURHAM and Cleveland’s ladies’ tennis team just missed out on promotion at the annual Winter County Cup in the Wirral.
The eight-girl team defeated Shropshire 8-1 and South Wales 6-3 in Group 4a of the competition before losing their group winners’ play-off to Avon.
■■ASTLEY defeated Concordia 10-0 in the Northumberland Winter Netball League’s Under-16s Division.
■■GATESHEAD Hockey Club are seeking new members who are invited to coaching sessions at Dunston’s Kingsmeadow School on Tuesdays (6.15-7.30). For more details go to gatesheadhoc@gmail. com.
■■JUNIOR league, schools and youth football reports will be in tomorrow night’s Grassroots Sport.