POCKLINGTON Karate Centre's Oliver Willison has been crowned WAKO British champion after a superb performance in Solihull.

Taking part in his first major event of the year, Willison was up against the country's best in the kata (sequence of movements) category.

But his series of choreographed moves obviously impressed the judges, with scores of 9.9, 9.9, 9.9, 9.9 and 9.8 giving him the all-important first place and ensuring his selection for the WAKO Great Britain team.

Willison will next join the rest of the team from Pocklington Karate Centre when they take part in the WKS European event prior to the Irish Open in Dublin.

Meanwhile, York Kaisho Wado Karate Club, based in Bishopthorpe, returned home with a haul of medals from the annual Wado International Karate Federation National Championships held in Cheshunt near London.

Ewan Bryce and Libby Formhals earned silver medals in their respective teams in the kata categories and went on to win team bronze in the kumite (fighting) events.

The other six Kaisho students - Harry Johnson, Joseph Curtis, Henry Rice, Owen Lewis, Louis Formhals and Jake Fothersgill - also won bronze in the team kumite events, only narrowly beaten by the eventual champions.

Chief instructor Brian Williams, a sixth Dan, who was also a judge at the event, said: "I am extremely proud of all of our competitors, who through their hard work and dedication to their training were able to reap the rewards.

* THE Pocklington Karate Centre team are appealing for funding to help them attend more competitions across Europe. For details about classes at the centre or to help sponsor the team, phone 07897 335959.