ONE gold and two silver medals were bagged by York Karate instructor Liam O’Grady and club-mate Harry Cuddy in the ESKA European Karate Championships in Germany.

O’Grady, who is also the owner of Elite Fight & Fitness gymnasium, captained the team, which included York University student Cuddy, to senior silver, while Cuddy also won gold in the junior team championships.

It was the first time York has had two of its members represent the Karate Union of Great Britain’s England team at an international event.

The KUGB is the largest single style karate association in Great Britain.

O’Grady has been working with Cuddy at the Elite Fight & Fitness Gym in Osbaldwick since the latter moved to York to attend university.

The York Karate pair travelled to Germany and followed two days of intense training with two days of intense competition.

Cuddy fought in the 18 to 20-year-old individual junior event, but he did not fight to his usual ability and only reached the third round.

He did not disappoint in the junior team competition, though, as he defeated his opponents with relative ease, helping the England juniors take the European team crown for the third year in a row. Cuddy scored an ippon in the final match to win the title for England.

O’Grady’s individual kumite (fighting) went reasonably well but he was unlucky to fall out in the quarter-finals, just missing out on a medal, after narrowly losing to a Portuguese opponent.

A double leg sweep had O’Grady well-placed but the finishing punch was not scored.

O’Grady then went a point down and, although he picked off his rival with a sharp head punch, his opponent fell to the ground and the referees warned the York ace for heavy contact. No more points were scored and the fight was lost.

O’Grady had more luck in the senior team event, being part of the England squad that for the fourth year in a row reached the European final.

The new line-up comprised two 18-year-olds and two 21-year-olds, with Cuddy being a reserve in this team.

England beat Scotland, a tough Russia team and a strong outfit from Switzerland – O’Grady including a perfectly-executed double leg sweep and this time scoring the punch as his side scored three ippons in a 4-1 win – to set up a final against Germany.

The German team, fighting in front of their home crowd, were full of experience and talent and toppled the England youngsters 3-2.

But it was still a great weekend for England and the York Karate duo.

For information on York Karate or Elite Fight & Fitness, visit www.elitefight.co.uk or email elite.fitness@live.co.uk.