Students from Ilkley Karate Club had plenty to celebrate at the recent grading examinations held at the Ben Rhydding Methodist Church in Ilkley.

Seventeen students young and old (10 children and seven adults) were graded by Sensei Stan Knighton (8th Dan) who travels from Sheffield to grade the Ilkley students.

Sensei Knighton is one of highest ranked karate-ka in the UK, and a pass mark awarded by him is one well respected in the karate world.

The examiner was highly impressed with everyone's performance on the night, as the standard set was very high.

Ilkley instructor Mark Outterside feels that his students receive a less biased and objective pass mark by getting the top man to assess his students he also feels that he gets the best out of his students.

Mark singled out the performances of William Coates (10), Liam Scott (10) and all the adults as they had all worked very hard over the past months and this showed in the marks awarded.

Recent new starters Joshua Boon (5), Callum Clarke (5), Ryan Clarke (7), Mai Haver, Matan Haver (7) and adults Hilary Boon and Chris Whiteoak all passed the grade of 9th kyu red belt with some very impressive marks.

Passing the grade of orange belt were adults Philip Quinn and Andrew Papworth.

Philip scored maximum marks in his free fighting section of the grading.

Michael Quinn (8), Sam Melville (10) and adults Tracey Barrass and Nick Hewitt all passed the grade of 6th kyu green belt. Tracey score almost perfect marks throughout and came very close to skipping a grade for the second time.

Moving from junior grade to the senior grade of 3rd kyu brown belt was Andrew Drury who again put in another fine performance. Liam Scott (10), William Coates (10), and Frankie Johnston (12) passed the senior brown belt grades of 2nd and 1st Kyu. William and Frankie now hope to take their black belt in Sheffield in six months time.

The Grading Examiner Sensei Knighton commented on the outstanding performance of adults Philip Quinn, Tracey Barras and Andrew Drury who almost all managed to skip grades with near perfect scores.

Trophies were presented to high scorers of the night. The top awards went to Ryan Clarke and Tracey Barras who scored the highest marks on the night.

The club is now looking forward to the forthcoming Wharfedale Children's Karate Championships and are hoping to repeat last years trophy haul.