Lauren is champion as local karate stars shine

Lauren returned from the sixth WUKF World Karate Championships with a gold medal but was more delighted with the success of her students at the Yokai kami Karate Club that she runs.

Holly Brunton, 14, of Cockermouth School, picked up a bronze medal, Holly Newham, nine, of Dearham School, ranked ninth overall and Rosie Brunton, 12, also from Cockermouth School, finished in the top 20.

“All three students have only done karate for 12 months with the newly formed club and are only on their third grade belt,” said Lauren.

“I am so proud to be able to see amazing results in such a short space of time and I look forward to training them along with the rest of our students, allowing them to reach their full potential in the future competitions.”

A trio of martial arts starlets from Workington’s Hokushinko Club also shone in Dublin.

Elliot, 10, and Zinedine Hodgson, eight, of Seaton, and Workington youngster Debanee Allenby, 12, represented the FEKO international karate squad last weekend.

More than 2,250 competitors from over 30 different countries gave the youngsters a chance to test themselves against the world’s best.

Elliot and Zinedine exceeded all expectations in both kata and fighting disciplines, with the former having to be attended by medics twice after one particularly gruelling fight and ranking in the top 16 in the world in his age group.

Zinedine narrowly missed out on the finals and a chance to fight for the championship, ending up in the top eight in the world in his age group. The youngster was on top form in his kata discipline, making the final and winning a bronze medal; the first for FEKO and one of only six the team won.

Barry Hodgson, Elliot and Zinedine’s dad, said: “It was a phenomenal competition so I was unbelievably proud of them.

“Especially Elliot, he came up against a Russian lad and fought like a hero, Zinedine did as well. They’ve never competed like they did at the weekend, they really raised their game.”