Pupils from Yamakai Karate Club have amassed an impressive haul of medals from recent competitions.

Mar 24 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

STUDENTS from Yamakai Karate Club returned with an impressive haul of four gold, six individual silver, three team silver and three bronze medals from tournaments in Wishaw and Penrith.

At the 2011 Wishaw Grand Prix, Marc MacAulay won gold in the Junior Male Open section, beating several national squad members to the top prize, and his first of the year.

Shaun Arrowsmith also won gold in the Senior Male Over-75k section.

Silver went to Emma Boyle in the Senior Female Open Kumite section, which also saw Karen Lithgow take bronze.

Two further bronze medals were won by Greg MacAulay and Ross Leeper in the Senior Male Under-65k.

Both Yamakai Senior Male and Female teams won silver in their respective events, both losing on a count-back of points as their matches had ended in draws after three fights.

A young Yamakai squad then headed to Cumbria for the Penrith Open Youth event.

Eleven members travelled and eight returned with individual awards as well as a team placed.

In the boys’ 10-12 years 9-4th Kyu Under-50k, Luke Butterfield won gold and Matthew Grant took silver after both boys came through some tough matches to contest the final.

Again, in an all-Yamakai final, Cammy Gibbons narrowly defeated Shay McCormack to top prize in the boys’ 13-15 years Under-50k 9-4th Kyu section, edging it 2-1 on the day.

Other silver medals came from Liam Dobbie in the 13-15 years Over-50k and Marc MacAulay in the Junior Male Over-70k kumite event.

Bronze went to Cian Dobbie in the boy’s 10-12 years Over-50k Kumite.

In the boys’ 13-15 years Team Kumite Yamakai reached the final but lost on count-back to Sale Dojo from Manchester.

However, this was a fantastic result as Sale had two English national squad members in their ranks.

Yamakai are always looking to recruit new members and have classes on Wednesday evenings in St Peter’s Hall in Laighstonehall, Hamilton, from 6pm-8pm.

The club take on new starts from six years upwards, and beginners need just tracksuit trousers and a t-shirt to start.

Anyone looking for further information, should contact head instructor Jim Ross, 6th Dan, on 01698 421790 or visit www.yamakai.co.uk