Westwood Karate Club made it a family day to remember at the Shotokan World Karate Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.

The club returned with five golds, six silvers and four bronze - with the Stevens, Dunlop and Souster families coming up trumps with 12 medals between them.

Club instructor Carol Parrish led the ladies kumite team that also included Heather Souster and Lande Fourie to bronze, while there was also team success in the kata as Emma Souster, Vicky Stevens and Laura Paskins took gold.

In individual bouts, Emma, 15, Danielle Cole, 11, and Amy Pullen, 9, all became world champions in their respective kumite and kata groups.

Emma, in fact, only just pipped Vicky Stevens for the gold, and also teamed up with Claire Marsh and Stacey Dunlop for bronze in the team kumite.

Claire and Stacey joined Caroline Dawson for silver in the 16/17 years team kata.

Silvers also went to Amy Pullen (individual and team kata), William Stevens and Taylor Smerdon (both team kata).

Hayley Stevens emulated her sister Vicky by becoming world champion after teaming up with April Dunlop and Lauren Sparkes to win gold in the 12/13 years team kata.

Tony Souster, brother of Emma, won two silvers, one in the individual kata and the other with Sam Elsey and Scott Dunlop in the team kata. Marites Tomlinson grabbed two bronzes.

The club is running beginner's classes across the south Essex area. Call CarolParrish on 01702 559804.

Winning line-up - the world champions from Westwood Karate Club

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Victoria leads Shin Gi Tai's medal raid

Rayleigh-based Shin Gi Tai Shotokan Karate Club are celebrating after winning nine medals at a competition inHornchurch.

The event attracted various entries from around the world, but Shin Gi Tai held their own to come away with some top prizes.

Leading the way was 15-year-old black belt Victoria Kirley, who won two bronzes for kumite and team kata. She was joined in the team by StuartGregory and JohnHallam, both 13-year-old brown belts. John added an individual silver medal in the kata.

Gold winners included Martin Bracknell, a 13-year-old purple belt, his yellow belt brother Daniel, 11, and orange belt Bradley Bains.

Club instructor Debbie Pegrum said:"We took 15 competitors to this event and every one deserved to win from the way they performed.

"We are very encouraged as their instructors, and can see we have a lot of up-and-coming champions with very positive attitudes."

The club trains at Love Lane school and Wyburns school. Details on 01268 792900.

Ready for action - members of the Shin Gi Tai karate club who won medals at a competition in Hornchurch

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.