Local karate club enjoy stunning success against country’s best

Veras Academy were in impressive form at the English Karate Championships as they returned from Ponds Forge with eight titles.

Luca Veras took gold in the both the boys’ under-nine kata and kumite events before teaming up with Jack Walsh and Daniel Gardner to win the under-nine team kata.

Luan Veras was champion in the under-10 kumite competition and combined with brother Liam and Seyhan Cinar to triumph in the under-13 team kata category and under-11 team kumite title.

The club’s other gold medallists were Chloe Casimir in the girls’ under-15 kumite and Andras Tamas in the men’s 75kg kumite.

Liam Veras, in the under-11 kumite, and Donna Blake, in the female kumite, both picked up silver medals at the event in Sheffield.

Bronzes went to Demie Holland (girls’ under-11 kumite), Elisabeth Fahrenkamp (girls’ under-11 kata), Luke Kavanagh (boys’ under-13 kata), Harry Elvis, Ben Pomeroy (boys’ under-15 kumite), Blake (kata) and the team of Tamas and Paul Gibson (adult kumite).

After such an impressive performance at the event, Veras Academy Association head Raphael Veras was understandably thrilled with the team’s display.

“This has been a great day for the association, I can not express how happy I am to see the tremendous performances of every one in the team,” he said.