Yamakai Karate Club did well in recent competitions.

Dec 2 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

YAMAKAI Karate Club have won no fewer than 39 medals in two competitions in November.

The Hamilton club took a squad of 15 to the fifth Belgium International Open, winning a gold and bronze.

The gold came in the boys’ under-45k kumite, with Cameron Gibbons battling through seven matches to lift the group’s first gold medal at this event.

Young Cameron defeated opponents from England, Luxembourg, Belgium, Scotland, Germany and Holland.

Marc MacAulay took bronze in the junior male under-76k kumite.

Yamakai then took 35 competitors to Edinburgh for the Scottish Kumite Championships, returning with 37 medals from team and individual events.

Gold went to Greg MacAulay in the senior male under-70k, Marc MacAulay in the junior male +70k kumite and Robert McEwan in the junior male -70k kumite.

Gold also went to the junior male team of Marc MacAulay, Robert McEwan and Joe Wiseman, making them the current Scottish and British Junior Male team champions.

Yamakai’s senior female ‘A’ squad of Emma Boyle, Karen Lithgow and Katie McMenamin won their section for the second year running.

Silver medal success went to Karen Lithgow and Liam Dobbie in the individual sections, as well as the boys’ under-4ft 8ins team, under-5ft boys’ team, under-5ft 4ins boys’ team and the junior female team.

Bronze medals were won by Olivia Paisley, Luke Miller, Emma Boyle and Phil McGarry, with three teams also placed third – senior female ‘B’, boys’ under-4ft 4ins and girls under-5ft team.

Four Yamakai members are up for selection for the Scottish Under-21 national squad attending the European Championships in Turkey in February 2011.

Greg MacAulay, Marc MacAulay, Robert McEwan and Cameron Gibbons hope to be selected, and will find out in mid-December.

Club coach Jim Ross, 6th Dan, would like to congratulate all medal winners.

Yamakai train in St Peter’s Church in Buchanan Crescent, Laighstonehall, and take on beginners from six years old and above.

Class times are from 6pm-7pm (beginners and under-13) and 7pm-8pm (13 years and older).

The first week’s sessions are free of charge.

Information can be obtained from Jim Ross on 01698 421790 or on the club website www.yamakai.co.uk.