Yamakai Karate Club won 28 medals in two events in England.

Apr 1 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MEMBERS of Lanarkshire’s Yamakai Karate Club amassed an amazing haul of 28 medals in two English competitions.

The club took 13 gold, five silver and 10 bronze medals from the AMA International Open Karate Championships in Sheffield and the Chojinkai Under-18 Open Championships in Penrith.

At the Ponds Forge Leisure Centre in Sheffield, Marc MacAulay took gold in the boys’ 14-15 years under-70k kumite, while Emma Boyle won top prize in the senior female under-60k event.

Joanne Arton reached the cadet female under-59k final and took silver, and Greg MacAulay won bronze in the senior male under-67k category.

Performance of the day came from the senior female team, who took silver with a squad of Emma Boyle, Hazel Shields and Joanne Arton.

The group then travelled to Penrith, returning with 11 gold, a silver and nine bronze awards.

Gold went to Kyle Stenhouse in the boys’ 6-7 years section, Michael Peden in the boys’ 8-9 years, Shay McCormack in the boys’ 10-12 under-50k, Ross Shields in the 10-12 over-50k, Cammy Gibbons in the 13-15 boy’s under-55k junior grade and Marc MacAulay in the 13-15 over-55k black and brown belt section.

Top awards also went to Kirsten MacAulay in the girls’ 10-12 years low grade over-45k, Hazel Shields in the 13-15 kumite, and the cadet male team of Robert McEwan, Marc MacAulay and Ryan McMullen.

Yamakai’s Jack Butterfield took the only silver, with Cian Dobbie, Aedan Ross, Liam Dobbie, Joe Wiseman and Robert McEwan all taking bronze in their respective events.

Kirsten MacAulay added to her earlier gold by taking part in the 10-12 high grade section, where she won bronze.

The final bronze of the day went to the 13-15 years boys’ squad of Joe Wiseman, Cammy Gibbons and Liam Dobbie.

Yamakai are always on the lookout for new members and will open a new class at St Peter’s Church Hall in Buchanan Crescent, Laighstonehall, Hamilton, from Wednesday, April 7.

Class times are from 6pm-7pm (beginners and under-13) and 7pm-8pm (over-13s, all grades).

An existing class takes place at Strathaven Scout Hall, Kirk Street, Strathaven, on Saturdays from 11am-12pm (beginners and under-13s) and 12pm-1pm for over-13s, all grades).

There is also a class at Uddingston Community Hall on Mondays and Thursdays from 6pm-8pm.

New starts are accepted from six and over, and the first week’s sessions are free of charge.

Beginners need only a pair of tracksuit trousers and a t-shirt, and should bring a water-based drink.

Club coach Jim Ross, 5th Dan, can be contacted on 01698 421790 or more information is available by visiting: www.yamakai.co.uk