Three Bradford youngsters have been selected for national squad training after winning seven trophies at the JJ Karate Academy Kata competition.

The trio from the Eccleshill Shukakia Karate Club excelled in their categories at the event in Wolverhampton.

And as a result they were invited to take part in FEKO (Federation of English Karate Organisations) England squad training next year.

Eleven-year-old Courtney Rivers-Gallagher and Daniel Grimwood, aged 15, earned second place in the 12 to 16-year-old pairs, only missing out on top spot by 0.2 of a point, with Rivers-Gallagher competing in a section above her age.

Grimwood and Leah Whit-field then secured third place in the 16-year-old and over pairs, with Grimwood competing above his age group.

Rivers-Gallagher finished third in her individual Kata, losing out by a narrow margin, with only 0.5 points separating first and third – a commendable achievement considering she was the only girl in the ten to 12-year-old category competing against 15 boys.

Grimwood won his individual Kata in the 13-16 age group after several hard-fought rounds, while Whit-field, aged 18, also won her category of 16 years and above.

Sensei Mick Fawcett said “I am so proud of all of them. They put in so much hard work every Tuesday at training, they deserve everything they have achieved.”

The three train at Eccleshill Karate Club, Springfeild Centre, Eccleshill every Tuesday between 7.00 – 9.00pm. All are very welcome to come along.