POCKLINGTON Karate Centre quartet Simon Durrant, Jamie Discroll, Henry Smith and Callum Stewart have all gained first-class grading passes.

The four PKC members received the recognition after performing at a Northern Karate Association Kyu grading at the scout hut on Burnby Lane in Pocklington.

Pocklington coach Oliver Willison joined Leeds Karate Centre's Mark Irwin, Jo Mills and Jeff Crabbe on the judging panel and students were examined on basic combinations of kicks, blocks and strikes, kumite (sparring) and Kata (prearranged sequences of techniques).

The host club's Robert Gibson (9th Kyu red belt), Stewart, Anna Bains, Paul Myers (all 8th Kyu orange belt), Smith (7th Kyu yellow belt), Durrant (4th Kyu purple belt) and Discroll (4th Kyu white belt) all passed their gradings.

Coach Willison will travel to Spain later this year to compete in the WKA World Championships and is also hoping to represent Great Britain at the World Cup in Mexico.

He is looking for sponsorship and anyone who can help should ring 01759 302886, 01759 303998 or 07786 332090.