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True champs

Dave Lawrenson
17/ 7/2008

ECCLES Karate Club students Saul Whittle, Meishah Duff and Katie Overy exceeded all expectations with medal wins at recent competitions.

Saul, aged 12, won a gold medal at his first major event just three months after passing his black belt grading, triumphing in the cadet senior kata (patterned movements) event at the Gala Open Championships in Birmingham.

And Meishah, aged nine, and Katie, aged 11, combined to win a nine to four kyu silver medal in their first competition of any kind – the Sale Kata competition.

The karate club’s chief instructor Ricky Birchall said: "All three of them have done really well. I’m over the moon with them.

"The competition was very tough in Birmingham and Saul should be proud of winning a gold medal.

"And as for Meishah and Katie, they have only been training for three months. To win silver medals after such a short space of time is a really good achievement.

"All three of them are very keen and enthusiastic.

"They have been working hard in training and they deserve their success."