Club’s belters make grade
SOUTH Beach Karate Club in Blyth have held their first grading of the year.
This was the club’s largest grading to date, with 28 students aged between five and 16 successfully sitting the examination to move up to to their next belt under Sensei Jimmy Brennan, eighth dan, who travelled up from Liverpool to assess the students.
Throughout the pandemic the club has trained on Zoom and outdoors before finally returning indoors to the Isabella Centre in Blyth.
For 11 students this was their first grading.
Callie Cane, Rhys Evans, Jayden Hamilton, Jessica Hurley, Mckenzie Hurley, Jack Lazenby, Sofia Oakey, Aidan Robson, Shane Roy, Tyler Snaith and Rhys Tweddle all graded to orange belt.
A further seven students sat their second grading.
Minujan Balachandran, Alfie Bartlett, Ruby Bowes, Jay Crosby, Elliot
Harrison, Amelia Lazenby and Kayden Maddison graded to red belt.
Hannah Bowart, Alex Lazenby and Mason Spence passed their yellow belt grading and Taylor Mcalpine passed her purple belt grading.
Six students – Denujaa Balachandran, Kanushanth Balachandran,
James Bowart, Kye Mcgowan, Shay Mcgowan and Liam Stead – passed their brown and double white belt, the final belt before black belt.
Meanwhile, the Karate Union of Great Britain held its first black belt gradings since March 2020.
South Beach Club instructor Sensei Gemma Gibson was one of three to successfully pass her third dan grading under Sensei Billy Higgins, Sensei Frank Brennan and Sensei Garry Harford, all eighth dan.
She last graded in 2014 but had to wait until the required age of 21 to grade again, as well as the additional time due to the grading being delayed because of the pandemic.
Passing the grading was a fantastic achievement and means the club now has two third dan instructors.
South Beach Karate Club trains on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Blyth Isabella Centre.
Further information is availablefrom Sensei Dylan Gibson on 07552 694 111
CHARLIE Wyke is reportedly close to agreeing terms with Celtic, despite the offer of a new contract with Sunderland.
The Black Cats striker (pictured) hit 31 goals in all competitions last season as the Wearsiders narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship following defeat to Lincoln in the play-off semi-finals.
Wyke’s contract has ended end at the Stadium of Light but the 28-year-old was offered new terms, along with mdifielder Luke O’nien, fullback Denver Hume and winger Aiden Mcgeady.
However, new Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is believed to be close to making him his first signing at Celtic
Park, with reports claiming Wyke has held talks with the Glasgow giants. It leaves Sunderland will a substantial hole to fill in their squad, although head coach Lee Johnson will be hopeful January signing Ross Stewart can continues his progress and step up to fill Wyke’s shoes.
Johnson underlined Wyke’s progress this season - he had just 11 goals in his previous two seasons at Sunderland - and if he does leave this summer then the focus will be on repeating the feat with Stewart and any new striker signings.
The club are still waiting for decision from O’nien, Hume and Mcgeady.