Sarah Fletcher, the Leeds Aikido coach who is based at Jimmy’s Gym Calverley, has won a gold medal in the World Aikido Championships in Japan.

Along with Natuley Smalle and former Ilkley Grammar School pupils Danielle Jones and Laura Beardsmore, Fletcher won the women’s team event in Kawasaki.

Sarah, who also won bronze in the Randori No Kata with partner Andrew Rigby, who trains with Sarah at Leeds Aikido (Kirkstall) under instruction Bob Jones, said: “It was an honour and a privilege to compete alongside the best players in women’s Aikido.”

Fletcher has trained and competed with the Great Britain team for the past ten years, including five World Championships and three European tournaments.

She instructs a successful junior team, including national and European champions.

The club has been running for nine years and sessions are on Saturday mornings at Jimmy’s Gym on Ravenscliffe Road.

For further information on Aikido and joining clubs, visit the British Aikido Association website at www.aikido-baa.org.uk/clubs.

Meanwhile, the Seidokan Karate Academy attended the Karate Sport England National Open Championships at Loughborough Leisure Centre and brought home four gold medals, five silvers and six bronzes.

Greg Gentleman took gold in the male ippon and team rotation, while Ellie Greenhalgh won the under-18 years’ female fighting and Jack Lynch the under-18 years’ male fighting.

There were runners-up placings for Ellie in the team rotation, Greg in the team sanbon, Josh and Jack Lynch in the team rotation and Fern Sugden in the under-21 years’ ippon female fighting.

Bronzes went to Hasnen Mahmood in the 14 and 15 years’ male fighting, Jack and Josh Smith in the sanbon fighting and Fern in the sanbon fighting and team rotation. Greg also claimed a bronze in the under-21 years’ male fighting.

King’s Karate Club won seven golds, two silvers and two bronzes in the Halifax Karate Cup.

After a successful grading event earlier this month, at which the first orange belts were awarded, the club sent a contingent of seven the following day to Halifax.

The following weekend, many of the same squad attended the Shindo Kai National Championships in Barnsley and came away with a silver medal and four bronzes.

The club are going from strength to strength since they opened in September last year and these results are testament to the hard work all the students and parents put in.

King's Karate Club classes are now held on Wednesdays (7pm-8pm) and Fridays (6.30pm-7.30pm) at Footsteps Theatre School, Westfield Lane, Idle, Bradford, BD10 8PY. All are welcome.