YORK’S most established karate club sampled success at the York Karate Championships.

The York Shotokan Karate Club, which has been in operation since 1962, fielded a small contingent of competitors but prised a large number of medals from an event that featured almost 300 devotees from across the north of England.

In both the adult and junior sections, YSKC triumphed in both kata (forms) and Kumite (sparring) events.

There was also gold in the individual kata for Frances Dook and Lucy Winn in the paired kata event, with silver for Jiani Wang in the adult kata.

Kumite also saw a rich crop of medals for the club, with Dook striking gold again in her event and silver medals for Jiani Wang in the adult event and Thomas Dook in the junior. Jason Koulocheris and Lucy Winn both won bronze medals.

Despite gaining a brace of golds, Frances Dook narrowly missed out on the trophy for the overall most successful junior competitor, coming second by one point to the eventual victor.

Said YSKC’s chief instructor, Sensei Keith Gullen: “I’m delighted by this result, which builds on the York Shotokan Karate Club’s lengthy record of winning medals at competitions.

“We also had a large number of competitors in their first ever competition, so for them just turning up and taking part was a real achievement.

“I’m proud of them all and particularly pleased we had such success with both the adult and the junior categories, and with male and female competitors."

The YSKC trains at Knavesmire Primary School on Mondays from 7pm to 9pm and at Fishergate Primary School on Wednesdays.