A trip to Birmingham for their last tournament of 2017 saw four members of the Phoenix Karate Schools squad added to their trophy tally.

The All-Styles Karate Alliance Invitational Tournament attracted competitors from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Malta to make it an international event.

Leighton Kerr from Gorleston, competing for the first time as a junior black belt, took a well deserved bronze medal in the 10-12 year old boys’ kumite.

Eight-year-old William Mortimer from Lowestoft was unlucky not to come home with a gold, when he lost by one wazari to a rival from the home counties in the final.

Johannes Bieber fought well and also reached his final, but couldn’t quite get his techniques to contact for the score and had to settle for a silver.

Fourteen-year-old Zara Williams continued her winning streak when she took silver in her individual kumite and weapons Kata. She was then asked to fight as a reserve for the Maltese team, when one of their fighters was injured and they came in with a gold in the team rotation.

Tay Emmerson, Cory Newton-Adams, Billy Baker and William Snowling were unable to make the medals this time despite putting in good performances.

Club coach Vivianne Trorey, 4th Dan, said: “A trip to Hull for squad training and selections for the World Karate Championships in Dundee next June will be our final event next weekend.

“The students will have eight weeks to regroup and get ready for the 2018 season which starts in Liverpool at the end of January.”

Anyone wishing to train at the Phoenix classes in Martham, Caister, Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, Hopton, Lowestoft and Oulton Broad can contact Vivianne Trorey on 01502 730171 or 07895 550168 for details or visit the website at www.phoenixkarateschools.com

Meanwhile The Chinto Karate Group attended the EKCC Grand Karate Open at Clacton-on-Sea Leisure Centre on Sunday, November 12.

Eleven students attended this competition and the team came away with eight trophies and two medals after a great effort from all the students.

Anyone wishing to have their sporting achievements featured in the Mercury should email reports to yarsportmail@archant.co.uk before 12 noon on Wednesday.