YORK Kenshinkan Squad duo Brendan Cafferty and Ryan Carlyle battled it out in the final of the kumite (fighting) at the annual kyu grades karate competition in Prestatyn, north Wales.

Cafferty proved a bit too strong for 11-year-old Carlyle in the 12 to 15 years section, winning with two maegeris (front kicks) to the stomach.

Young Carlyle competed despite suffering an injury in the semi-finals which saw him carried off and his opponent disqualified.

He recovered to fight in the final but Cafferty won the day.

York reached the quarter-finals in the team event.

Pete Goodwin, a 7th kyu purple and white belt, went out to a more experienced opponent on disqualification. His reverse punch to the head was ruled as too heavy.

Peter Carlyle forced his opponents out of the area three times but lost to a last-minute manouvre. The match was lost and third fighter Ricky Watson was unable to retrieve the situation.

Laura Graham and Peter Carlyle reached the third round and quarter-final respectively in the kata (form) events.

Sisters Samantha, April and Laura Graham entered the team kata event and missed out on the cut to the finals by 0.2 after giving a much improved performance from the National Championships in April.

The York Kenshinkan squad was coached by club instructor Rob McCartney, the former British national squad member.

York's Liam O'Grady also showed up for the finals after finishing national squad training in Liverpool.

York Kenshinkan train every Tuesday and Thursday evening at Canon Lee School from 7pm to 9pm. For further details please contact McCartney on 01904 345989.

Updated: 09:54 Friday, June 27, 2003