PAUL NEWBY earned an international karate bronze medal in his first fight as a senior competitor.
Paul, who has just celebrated his 21st birthday, took part in an international tournament in Venice and defeated former European and World Cup champions on his way to the semi-finals.
Earlier he had travelled to Naples with the English team and collected a silver medal.
"We thought we had done enought to take gold, but we were fighting the Italians supported by an Italian crowd and with an Italian referee," Paul said.
In January he flies out to France to take part in the Paris Cup as part of the build up to the European Championships in May.
"I've had fantastic support from local people and particularly my sponsors at the Robin Hood pub in Silsden," he said.
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