As the new karate season kicks off Carnalea students are back into hard training.

In recent gradings; Lewis McClements, Jack McClements and Aimee Reid all successfully achieved their next belt.

Continuing with the 'Playing the Long Game' theory that the club has practised so successfully for many years, last week over 20 children successfully completed one or two skill (merit) badges each. Children's Officer, Sam Lewis explained "We use 'merit badges' as basic skill builders for younger children. It is also a great mechanism for inclusive play.

Children are shown either one simple skill, such as a kick, or perhaps a range of 5 stretching exercises at one class and are then expected to practice that skill at home for the next class. At the next class they are tested individually to prove they have leaned the skill and then awarded a merit badge, which they can have sewn on to their karate suit. This system works with children of many ages and abilities and gives them simple fun and achievable targets."

On the international scene Claire McPeake has just been selected to represent Northern Ireland at the Carlow International later this year. She will be joined by club team-mates; Victoria Lindsay, Neil and Glen Bailie, Kurtis and Levi Kane.

Current world champion, David Brashaw, has agreed to compete in the forthcoming World Championships which are to take place in Serbia in early October. Subsequently all of these athletes will be intensifying their training programme over the coming weeks with a view to more silverware.

Seniors members in the club are currently half way through their First Aid Training programme and hope to complete the certificate by mid September.

Sponsor Wanted

After 10 years of being successful with students from six year old to medals at World Championships, the club has finally designed its own association Training Tops and are very keen that a local company would agree to having their Company Name/Logo on the top, based on sponsorship of the same design for three years. The sponsor money would go to providing much needed competition mats which the club has never managed to purchase. When asked about this David advised, "The regular success of our students must be very appealing as an advertising platform for some local company. In turn it would greatly level the training platform for our students against competitors from other countries who receive major finance from their local sports councils."

18 August 2005