BASINGSTOKE’S Jim Feighery-Murphy, Joe Kelloway and Kevin Crine helped the Wado International Karate Federation to victory at the English Karate Federation All Styles National Championships.

Their victory at the event, which took place at the Pond’s Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield, ended Western Karate Union’s six-year reign as champions.

Feighery-Murphy, Kelloway and Crine, along with Ben Hackett and Gavin Bailey, made up the WIKF five-man team.

They breezed through the first round and into the semi-finals, where they beat Shindo Kai 3-1 after some close fights.

The final saw Feighery-Murphy lead the way with a 3-0 victory in the opening match thanks to a lightning-fast head kick.

This was followed by two wins of 8-0 by Kelloway and Bailey over WKU.

A delighted Crine said: “I’m so happy, as for years I’ve wanted to win this title.

“We’ve always had the skill but not the numbers.

“Each year as juniors turned 18 and the prospect of having a full team seemed imminent, something would always happen to quash these hopes.

“Some went to university, some moved away and two even retired to pursue their modelling careers.

“We were lucky to have Jim there, especially seeing as he has been out with an injury for a while.”

Feighery-Murphy, Kelloway and Crine are part of the Su-Ha-Ri Karate School.