Successful students from the Ilkley Karate Club based at the Ben Rhydding Methodist Church won numerous trophies at the Wharfedale Kata Championships 2002 held at Aireborough Leisure Centre in Guiseley.

Local clubs from Baildon, Harrogate, Otley, Horsforth, Eccleshill and Guiseley took part.

The Ilkley Club run by Instructors Mark Outterside (4th dan) and Simon Holden (1st dan) managed to come away with 11 trophies, which is an amazing achievement as most of the children were competing for the first time.

In the girls' yellow/orange belt under 8 years section Ami Woods took the second place trophy. In the boys' under 8 years yellow/orange belt event Junaid White took a well-deserved third place.

Ilkley also made it one, two and three in the girls' yellow/orange belt 8 to 10 years category. Tashina Earle took the first place trophy, while Hana White came second and Helen Sugden third. All girls were tied in first place after the elimination round and therefore had to perform the kata again in order to separate them.

Eleven-year-old Abby Tarrant took a well-deserved second place in the girls' yellow/orange belt 11 years and above category while fellow club member Emma Fell also took second place in the girls' green/purple belt category.

Andrew Johnston and Ashley Woodhouse came third in their events, while Maria Corless took second place in the girls' senior brown belt event.

The Ilkley teams consisting of Helen Sugden, Tashina Earle and Hana White (Ilkley A Team) came second after narrowly being edged out of first place losing out by a couple of points, while the Ilkley B Team (Abby Tarrant, Danielle Dudley and Hattie Haines) took third place.

Anyone interested should contact Mark Outterside on 01943 601297 or visit the club website on www.ilkleykarate.co.uk. The first three lessons are free.