Leeds Karate Academy, based in Farsley, returned from the 41st North West Open Karate Championships with a huge haul of medals.

The squad won five of the events and took all three top placings in the intermediate male kumite.

Assistant instructor David Wright, a 2nd dan black belt, won the senior male kata, took bronze in the intermediate kumite and gold as part of the winning kumite team.

Ashley Scott and Ryan Tucker, both 2nd dan black belts, won the senior female kata and intermediate (16-21 years) male kumite respectively. Joining Ryan on the podium for the intermediate male kumite were Andrew Cryer (silver) and David Wright (bronze).

The highlight of the day was victory of the male team kumite, consisting of Tucker, Wright and Tom Little, Tucker earning an Ippon win in the last fight of the match with a superb counter punch against his 6ft 4in opponent.

James Brown added the boys 5-5ft 5in kumite title to the squad’s haul and there were medals for Zoe Starr (silver, senior kata), Natasha Balycki (bronze, senior kumite) and Mark Smith (silver, 7th-4th kyu kumite).