KARATE king Liam O'Grady had reached the gold standard.

He has returned to York from Vienna after winning the European Championship Under 21 title.

For good measure the Stockton Lane fighter also landed bronze in the senior division.

A member of the Leeds Karate Academy, O'Grady trained with the Kenshikan Karate Club at Canon Lee School in York.

A technical clerk in the highways department of City of York Council, O'Grady is now planning to establish himself in the senior England squad for next year's European Championships in Cyprus.

By 2003 the former Huntington School pupil hopes to be a regular member of the national team and will by then have his sights firmly set on glory when the World Championships are held in Sunderland.

Updated: 10:59 Saturday, December 22, 2001