HARROGATE Karate Club's 53-strong squad picked up 14 trophies at the North West Open Karate Championships in Wigan.

Highlight for the the club was a clean sweep in the fighting (kumite) event, a feat no other club has managed in the tournament's 34-year history.

Harrogate club instructor Matt Price, who is a fourth dan black belt, beat fellow instructor Nick Heald in the final while assistant instructor Duncan Randall took bronze.

The trio also won the team event and Price added a third goal by winning the set form (kata) event. Heald was third in the kata section.

Price will next be in action at the Japanese Karate Association European Cup in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, April 5.

Harrogate's success continued at the North West Open in the younger age groups with Richard Zealand taking bronze in the 16-21 kumite. Zoe Starr was second in the girls' kumite and Jamie Bending bronze in the under-16 kumite.

Other medals were won by Ryan Tucker (bronze, children's kata), Emma Gibson (silver - ippon kumite (arranged sparring), Jordon Probst (silver - under-11 kata).

Updated: 12:08 Wednesday, April 02, 2003