in medal haul

Dromore Karate Club are celebrating after punching and kicking their way to victory at the Karate NI North of Ireland Championships.

The club were up against formidable competition with 700 martial arts enthusiasts, but their dedication to the sport more than paid off after they achieved a medal tally of three gold, three silver and two bronze.

Nine-year-old Bradley Montgomery was awarded the Northern Ireland Champion title after winning all his bouts in what was only his second competition appearance.

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Courtney Haslem took two medals at the event, winning silver in the irls 9-10 years category and bronze in girls team event. Fellow club member Claire Lavery picked up silver in the girls 14-15 years category.

Alex McMillan won silver in the masters kumite (fighting) category and bronze in kata.

Coach Liam Haslem led his winningteam by example, winning gold in both kumite and kata in the masters category.

Speaking to the Leader, Coach Haslem pin-pointed the club’s recent medals’ success to two factors: natural ability and dedication.

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“Some of the children are attending two nights a week. Sone kids have a certain natural ability and technique; it’s a natural ability.”

Liam added that he was delighted by the club’s performance. “It was a good result, it shows that the children are really starting to compete.”

With his own success in the championships contributing to the medal tally, Liam was somewhat modest about his own performance.

“I won two medals in the masters categories. Masters in this case meaning ‘older’,” he laughed.

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