UNITED World Karate England is the Unified body in England that has been formed to represent them at the UWK Worldwide events, it is said to now be the biggest Karate Body in Britain.

Therefore the UWK England Open, which took place at the Ponds Forge International Arena on Sunday, November 22 was a big and prestigious event.

A number of Vale Karate members were among the Karate Wales Squad which emerged with dramatic results.

The Kata events were first underway and Karate Wales’ first gold medal of the day came from Vale’s talented 15-year-old Emma Squire, who won the Girls 15-17 Kata, a great result as she was probably the youngest competitor in the category.

Wales’ youngest squad member; Ellie-Jayne Farrugia, nine, took a bronze in the Under-10 Kata while Chiara Baker, 11, took a bronze in the 10-12 before stepping up to the 12-14 category where she took another bronze.

Leah Copeland, 21, took a silver medal in the Ladies Shotokan event where she was narrowly beaten by the Romanian multiple WUKF World champion Eva Kerekes, before putting in the Kata performances of her life to take the gold medal in the Ladies Open.

Jack George, although only 12, won the last Welsh Karate League Under-14 event, beating boys who are now 14.

He again demonstrated his improvement and a hint of what may be to come with brilliant displays, winning both the 10-12 145cm plus event, beating fellow Welsh squad member Morgan Harvey in the final, and the 12-14 Shobu Ippon event, where he headed a Wales 1-2-3-3 with Tushi Karunanithy in silver and Josh Davies and Josh Dwyer (Vale) in bronze medal positions.

Josh Dwyer was also amongst the medals in the 13-14 165cm plus category where he won another bronze medal.

Alysha Lee, another fast improving fighter was a whisker away from reaching the final in the 10-12 145cm plus event, earning a well deserved bronze medal.

Leah Copeland had no time, and was in no mood to celebrate her Kata Gold medal as her Kumite category was imminent and full of talent.

Leah had a bye in the first round, but was in the toughest part of the draw as her first opponent was none other than WUKF’S top female fighter, Romania’s Magdalena Tier, who won the Under 60kg and Open events at the UWK and WUKF World Championships in Slovenia last month, beating Leah in the second round on that occasion.

In the shock result of the tournament, Leah fearlessly threw herself into the challenge and brought her supporters to their feet with the greatest win yet.

Anything less than the gold medal would still have been somewhat anti-climactic, but she didn’t disappoint, beating two of England’s best females on the way to taking her second gold medal of the day.

Rhydian Pullin came close to adding to Wales’ gold medal tally, narrowly falling at the final hurdle, to secure a well won silver medal.

The 10-14 Male Rotation team event took place at 8pm, the last event of a gruelling day.

Harrison Williams, Josh Dwyer and Jack George represented in style and had secured a 7-2 win at time up, only to be disqualified due to a rule infringement.

A successful end to a great event which highlighted again the immense strength of Vale Karate and the Karate Wales squad.