COWDENBEATH Karate Club has had a very busy month and they collected gongs at the British Championships.

They have had coaching sessions for World Champion Paul Newby, plus the Meadowbank junior championships and the British Karate Open Championships, held in Edinburgh, with fighters from the UK and abroad converging over two days of intense and high level competition.

Cowdenbeath fighters entered under the SK2000 banner and enjoyed great success.

Elize Bauld won her section after many hard and close fights and became the club's 7th British champion.

Elize, who finished runner-up the week before in the Irish Open, in Dublin, displayed great skill and was a worthy winner.

Club instructor, Ben Smith, fought his way to the adult -67kg final but lost to one of Europe's top fighters in the final, but a great silver medal for him.

Kirsty McAlpine retained her ladies title, again with great grit, and it was a family affair for them as husband Steve and son Cameron won bronze medals in their respective sections again showing great skill and was just reward for the work they put in week in week out at their club.

Last up was Melissa Maxwell, who again retained her title with dynamic kicking as she trains towards next month's World Championships in Tenerife.

Robyn Ironside, Sammi Maxwell, Emma Duncan, Lucy McDonald and brothers Kenny and Tony Pukta all gave great performances, but just missed out on this occasion as did Allan Goodwin.

The senior team again just lost out to strong English opposition with Lewis O'Reilly fighting on despite injury but showed the budo spirit of fighting on to support his club mates.

The group finished 7th overall in a massive group of associations which did Shotokan karate in Scotland proud.

Next up for the Cowdenbeath club was the Meadowbank junior championships, a tournament for under 16 year-olds with novice sections for all ages.

Cole Webster was first up, in his first ever competition and displayed a great fighting attitude before narrowly losing as did Max Evans and Brooke Hodge and they were a credit to the club.

Then Luke Sheils fought and lost in the last five seconds of his final to win a well deserved silver medal.

However, top fighter was young Lauren McCreadie, who won her final 8-0 and it was her first every tournament . Lauren showed the maturity of a seasoned fighter and is one for the future.

Elize Bauld won two silvers with her usual determination but Chloe Courts again won gold to follow her win at this event last time.

Chloe is a great trainer and already showing the potential to go very far in karate.

Maddison Rowley fought very well but narrowly lost out as did some of her club mates but everyone can be proud of their efforts.

Final fight was fight of the day in a charged atmosphere . Sammi Maxwell fought with her all out explosive style to narrowly lose in the final of the under 16 black belt section. Emma Duncan also won silver again fighting with great determination and is improving with every tournament .

The club would like to thank all the fighters, coaches and supporters who helped with these events.

Said a club spokesperson: "The club is trying to give all children and indeed adults the opportunity to compete and train to the highest level in karate in their local community and continue to fly the flag for the town.

"Anyone is welcome to join in or even come along and watch the classes."

The club is non-profit but operates to the highest levels with karate taught in a fun but to a proper level which these results bear testimony to.