Exciting times for Vale karate (From Barry And District News)

Exciting times for Vale karate

THESE are exciting times for both the Junior and Adult Karate Squads at Vale Karate. Nine-year-old Nick Hooper from Penarth, the five times Welsh Champion, last week won the most prestigious title available to him when he travelled to Dresden in Germany to take part in The Kobe Osaka World Cup and won the under- 10 years Kata title.

The World Karate Federation and European Karate Federation, the World and European governing bodies for Karate do not have categories for karate athletes below 16 and therefore, possibly the most prestigious tournament in European karate for children is The Osaka World Cup which is organised by Tommy Morris the World Chief Referee.

The tournament was attended by around 1500 competitors from all over the world and was run over both Saturday and Sunday. Nick's nerve-wracking win in the final was over an excellent Egyptian youngster.

Nick began training alongside his sister Alice and father Gareth, both of whom are also Champions. At the age of four, he showed an immediate aptitude for karate, winning the Welsh Under-12 Kata title when he was just six. He has gone on to dominate the Junior Kata scene in Wales ever since, winning a further three Welsh title and was also a member of the Vale Under-10 years Kumite team which won this year's Welsh title.

This was his fifth 'Open' title this year alongside six Vale titles. January saw Vale Karate on the BBC Children's Television Programme 'Blue Peter' and will be featured again next month. The Vale will be represented when the television spotlight is turned on Karate.

Twenty-year-old Gareth Reynolds is already a regular member of the Welsh Squad as well as twice Welsh Champion. Next month Gareth is one of the 32 British karate champions invited to take part in 'The 10K Karate Clash.' There is a winner take all cash prize of £10,000 with some of the greatest karate champions of the last couple of decades taking part. The tournament will be televised over several weeks by Sky Sports and all at Vale Karate wish Gareth the very best of luck.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Gareth Reynolds can contact Vale Karate.