PAUL NEWBY recently scored a karate hit with a superb performance at the Dutch Open International tournament in The Hague.

Newby, 23, had to lose half a stone to compete in the men's Under 60k competition, but still turned in a top performance to help the English team to the team gold.

"I was training in a bin liner in an attempt to loose weight, but was on form in the event," he said.

Paul collected a bronze medal to add to England's three gold, one silver and another bronze to capture the team prize. "It was a superb competition with everybody preparing for the World Championships later in the year," he said.

Mo Ilyas reached the quarter-finals of the English Karate Championships in Birmingham in the mens open weight event. He went one better, taking bronze in the Under-70k event.

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