Members of York and District Shotokan karate clubs performed well at the International Japan Karate Association (GB) National Championships.

A group of 30 members of the York, Haxby and Selby clubs competed at Keele University and were successful in all categories entered.

In the senior events Lee Kerwin (third dan), from York, successfully retained his title by winning the individual Kata for the second successive year.

Kerwin, together with Ashley Dilcock (2nd dan) and Steve Bland (2nd dan), both from the Selby club, won team Kata for the fourth year running, claiming the Brian Woods trophy which was awarded for the first time.

The same trio also came third in the team Kumite (sparring). Dilcock also fought well in the senior individual Kumite and came second after a number of exciting fights.

There was a 17-strong contingent from Haxby, many of the juniors competing for the first time, and they made a clean sweep of the over five foot junior Kata.

Paul Smith (1st Kyu, age 13) won the event, with Laura Russell (seventh Kyu, 13) second and Alice Laurenson (seventh Kyu, 11-years-old), third.

Michelle Potts (seventh Kyu, 10), from Haxby, came third in the under five foot junior Kata.

Other notable successes included Chris Powell (first Kyu, 15), from Selby, who won the under 16 Kumite and Mark Sharples from York (fifth Kyu, 12) who came third in the under five foot Kumite.

Anyone wishing to take up Shotokan Karate is welcome to come along and train at any of the three clubs.

The clubs train twice a week and have regular courses from Japanese instructors.

The gradings are carried out by Kato Sadashige Shihan (eighth Dan, IJKA European Chief Instructor).

For details contact Keith Gullen about York and District Clubs (01904-700504), Ian Shaw for Haxby (01904-769850) and Steve Bland (01757-704344) for Selby.