West Berkshire's karate kids help England at Euros

Newbury school children Ellie Gudgeon alongside brother and sister duo, Eleanor and Josh Waters, competed in the sixteenth Wado International Karate-Do Federation (WIKF) European Championships in Greece recently.
Park House School, Newbury, pupil, Ellie, aged 12, won two bronze medals; one in the individual event and one in the team competition.
Meanwhile St Bartholomew's School, Newbury, pupils, Eleanor and Josh, both won bronze in the team event, helping England to finish second in the overall medal table.
Eleanor and Josh were following in the footsteps of their older brothers, Gareth, aged 24, and Tom, aged 22, who have won medals with England at national, European and World championships.
“Everyone thinks karate is all about chopping wood in half with your hand which we don't do,” 12-year-old Eleanor said. “It's a really interesting sport and I love learning new skills and techniques.
“I am really proud that I managed to come home with a medal. I had been pushed up a weight category because I was the only one in mine so then I was the youngest and the lightest.”
Big brother, Joshua, aged 15, who has previously won medals at European and World championships, added: “I like the hard training, which leads to success, and the feeling that you have earned it through all the blood sweat and tears.
“I also enjoy the bond you form with team-mates; there is a real sense of camaraderie between the whole squad.”
Meanwhile Ellie, who just qualified for the squad, having turned the eligible age of 12 last month, said: “I was very shocked when I was picked for the squad and now I’m really proud I got two medals at my first championships.”
However there was disappointment for Ellie’s mum, Edwina, who helped organise events to fund the trip but missed out on seeing her daughter compete due to pneumonia.
“I was gutted, especially after all that hard work saving money to get there. We had to fund the whole trip and struggled with sponsorship, but did get donations from Piper Autos, Newbury Building Society, Newbury Round Table and a couple of private individuals.”
The Newbury trio are now hoping to represent England in next year’s WIKF World Championships in Crawley, West Sussex.
Pictured left to right are Eleanor Waters, Ellie Gudgeon, coach, Kevin McAuslan-Crine, and Josh Waters.