Sport

Saxon claim medal haul at UK event

PUNCHING HIS WEIGHT... Saxon’s John Lowe was selected for the UK team.

SAXON Karate Club returned from the United Kingdom traditional karate championships with a bagful of medals.

They fought off strong competition to bring home eight gold medals, 11 silver and seven bronze.

The highlight of the day saw Ross Mills, Palvinder Gill and Daniel Price clinch the UK cadet team Kata title after training together for only a week.

Saxon’s ladies team took their fifth consecutive championship, while Wardle’s Brian Moore marked his competitive debut by taking a silver in the brown belt individual Kumite.

Sensei Leigh Smith was proud of his team’s performance. He said: "Two years ago these winners were spectators.

"Now, through hard work and dedication, they have become national champions, helping Saxon Karate Club to rank number one nationally."

The icing on the cake for the club came when watching UKTKF Chief Sensei Masao Kawasoe picked Saxon’s John Lowe to represent the UK in the world championships in Switzerland. Milnrow’s Dean Hollister was called up as reserve standby.