SEVEN members of the Basingstoke’s Su-Ha-Ri Karate School took part under the banner of WIKF in the Western Karate Union Open Championships at Weston-super-Mare.

Flynn Vickery at only seven years of age made a good debut by winning the first round of the under eight punch bag event.

Nathan Audsley (10) went slightly further. Despite being the youngest in both categories, Audsley reached the third round of the 10 to 12 years punch bag and the semi-finals of the boys’ kumite (sparring) earning him the bronze medal.

Tadley’s Lexie Green (11) fought hard through four rounds to reach the final of the Girls’ 10-12 kumite.

After dominating most of the fight, Green was narrowly beaten in the dying seconds 4-3. However, the silver was a great achievement.

Mia Lane proved she is multi-talented. First Lane took silver in the Girls 13 to 15 kata (form) category, then bronze in the kumite.

Lucas Spiers contested the 13-15yrs boys’ heavyweight kumite and after four gruelling rounds he emerged as champion.

Spiers then teamed up with Sibi Kumara and Joe Clifford for the three-man team event.

The trio trounced several teams to reach the final where they took the silver.

The day was rounded off by newcomer Orla King who teamed up with Newbury’s Heath Upton and Burghfield’s Jack Adye to enter the synchronised kata event.

Despite limited practice as Adye was brought in to replace an injured teammate at the last minute, the team performed well winning a Bronze.

Overall WIKF took four golds, five silvers and seven bronzes, finishing seventh out of over 40 clubs.

Coach Kevin McAuslan-Crine said: “Everyone tried so hard and showed great spirit, especially considering that they were either newcomers or the youngest in their category.”

Su-Ha-Ri Karate School trains at Basingstoke Sports Centre on Fridays, from 6.45pm to 7:45pm and at Tadley Swimming Pool on Wednesday evening’s from 6pm to 7pm.

For more info contact Jon Wicks on 01252 326498 or visit su-ha-ri.co.uk.

# Pictured top left to right: Sibi Kumara, Kevin Crine, Lucas Spiers, Mia Lane. Bottom left to right: Flynn Vickery, Nathan Audsley, Orla King, Lexie Green.