Last Saturday, 25 March at the Carnalea Karate Club it all went purple for local girls, Claire McPeake and Levi Kane. Both girls successfully achieved their full purple belt at a grading under Sensei David Brashaw. Coach Kevin Lewis was delighted with their performances. He commented "Both girls proved they have the skill, determination and ability to go on towards the coveted black belt. Purple is the belt just before brown and Claire and Levi are the first girls in the history of the club since Kealin Murdock in 2001 to be awarded this belt."

Following close behind at the same grading, with a first-class pass at blue belt, was Sarah Brashaw. Kevin explained "Now that the girls have successfully achieved their grading, all three have their sights firmly set on qualification for the Junior World Championships, which are to take place in Hanover, Germany, in October." He added "This is just the beginning of the hard work that other students from the club have done in the past to win at international level. I am sure achieving their new higher grade belts will not only motivate them more than ever before, but also make them very proud of just how much they have achieved in this very demanding sport."

On the same day young Niamh Pang also outshone her colleagues being the only other student awarded a first-class pass at red belt.

Other results were :

Red belt: Leon Cheung, Ryan Jackson, Joseph Ferguson, Jack Pang and Nathan Lockhart.
Yellow stripe: Christopher Henderson, Monisa & Nameer Shahzad and Lauren Ogle.
Yellow belt: Joanne Keenan
Orange stripe: Sarah, Kate & Sean Keenan, Curtis Shaw and Courtney Majury.
Orange Belt: Conor Porter, Savannah Romein, Dale McCall, Sophie Stewart, GT Wright and Sarah Shields.
Green stripe: Rihannon Wells and Charlie Edgar
Green belt: Aime Reid and Andrew Wilson

All in all, it was a tough day. As always belts are earned, then awarded, and were thoroughly deserved by all the students.

Photographs from the event