Gloves are off as club bags Euro success
Twelve martial arts stars from Young Gloves Karate mixed it with some of the top fighters in Europe and returned home with six medals.
The club are based in Kidderminster but contain more than 300 members from all across the region, writes Lewis Cox.
It was topped a number of national events to gain acknowledgement and qualification from bosses at Western Karate Union (WKU).
Young Gloves, led by Sensei Justin Thomas 4th Dan, competed in the WKU European Championships for the first time in their 17-year history.
He saw off fighters from Germany, French and Spain at the Frankfurt showpiece.
It proved to be a fruitful trip for the Gowland brothers, Greg, 11, and Ben, 10, both of Burlish Park Primary School in Southport.
Greg claimed gold in the Kumite (fighting) class while Ben picked up silver.
Samantha Thomas, 21, of Worcester University, earned silver in the (Kata) patterns section, with Bucks College student Harry Griffiths, 15, also impressing to take a Kumite silver.
The medals kept on coming as Ellis Homer, 12, from Stourport, took a bronze with Ludlow's Jake Allen-Brunn also picking up bronze.
Club volunteer Lisa Homer said: "It's been really amazing to watch them grow as a team and be so confident to take on Europe."
Also in the squad that travelled to Germany were Emily Day, Ashleigh Avery, Kayleigh Avery, Joel Russello, Lewis Meacher and Tom Ames.
All members are at King Charles I School in Kidderminster on Sunday for a pre-grading session.
