MEMBERS of a Darlington karate club have excelled in national championships.
Ryan Dillon and Chris Wardell, of the Kyokutan Karate Club, competed in the English Karate Organisation national championships in Birmingham.
Nine-year-old Ryan, who attends Abbey Junior School, took part in the kata (form) competition, competing in the under-16 age group 1st kyu and below category.
Ryan, who has been training at the Arts Centre for three years, came first after winning several rounds and beating off 130 other contenders.
Chris, 23, competed in the senior category of the kumite (fighting) section and finished third. He might have done better, but an eye injury forced him to withdraw.
Both competitors put in a lot of work, under the guidance of coaches sensai Alan Wears and sensai John Smith.
In addition to Ryan's success at Birmingham, he also finished first in the Darlington Sukona Interclub competition, alongside several other club members.
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