The USKFI had an extremely successful day at the recent Liverpool Youth Championships. The competition, run annually by the KUGB's Red Triangle Karate Club attracts a high standard of competitor from all over the UK.

As in previous years, the USKFI's Girl's Ippon Kumite entrants Ruth O'Hara, Leeanne Royle and Erica Henderson dominated the event with Ruth securing the gold, Erica silver and Leeanne bronze. All three competitors showed excellent spirit and determination in what was a very closely-contested event.

Veteran competitor Shauna Egan stormed her way through the kumite eliminations to eventually gain joint third place in the Girl's U5'3" 12-15 Yrs kumite event. Shauna dealt with some much taller opponents to deservedly gain her place and was unlucky not to take one of the top two medal positions. Similarly, Sean O'Donoghue fought extremely well to take joint third in the 12-15 Yrs Boys' Kumite event. Sean fought doggedly throughout the eliminations and built on his experiences from the KUGB's National Championships to comfortably gain a medal position at this competition.

Following on from his success at the KUGB National Championships Joseph O'Hara again fought in the popular U5'0" Boy's Kumite to secure Joint-third. Joseph has improved steadily as a competitor over the last couple of years and proved his selection yet again with a spirited performance.

The Boys' U10 Ippon Kumite was one of the most hotly-contested events of the competition, with a very strong entry. Newcomer Evan Hickey, aged only seven, showed great maturity and a fierce determination to work his way through the eliminations. In the semi-final, despite receiving a strong counter-attack which left Evan in some discomfort, he came back to unanimously win the judges' vote for a place in the final. The final was very close with both boys showing great spirit and determination. However, Evan again managed to win all three judges' votes to take the title.

The USKFI were delighted with the spirit and attitudes of all its junior competitors and would like to congratulate all those who were selected.

More photographs are available to view in the Gallery!