Two North-East karate players won trophies at a recent prestigious national competition. Anne Hov and Simon Cudworth, members of Chikara Dojo of Kyokushin Karate Club in Spennymoor, both enjoyed success at the British Nationals Full Contact Karate Tournament held in Porthcawl, South Wales.

Hov, from Durham but originally from Norway, won second place in the semi contact and knockdown categories and fourth place in the kata category.

Cudworth, of Fishburn, won third place in the heavyweight full contact knock down category and second place in the semi contact category

Competition was tough as no body protection was permitted for the knockdown categories and there were some of the best full contact knock down fighters from England, Scotland and Wales and Poland in attendance.

Chief instructor Adam Walker says he was extremely proud to see his two students collect their medals after achieving two of the best, results the club has had in it's three-year history.

He said: "I'm very proud of them, it's always great to see people from the club returning home with medals and trophies.

"It's one of the toughest competitions to win because they're people from all over Britain taking part and it's open weight.

"We're getting stronger and stronger as a club."

The club, which has fighters who compete at both national and international levels on a regular basis, has a second reason to celebrate as Cudworth, having been with the Spennymoor-based club since it formed, has recently earned his black belt.

It is believed that the Kyokushin - meaning which means ultimate truth/ultimate reality - form of karate taught at the club is one of the most devastating forms of karate in the world due to its full contact nature.

As well as punches, kicks and strikes the style incorporates traditional aspects of self-defence moral, cultural and social issues.

The training hall is located in Low Grange Road, Spennymoor and is open to all ages and levels at six o'clock on Mondays and Wednesdays and five o'clock on Fridays. The club is the only one of its type in the region and it is managed by Adam Walker who is a full time school teacher and who spent six years training and teaching karate in Osaka Japan.

Anyone interested in joining the club should pop in on one of the training evenings or call 01388 810337 or 07713 411198 for more details.