A Co Antrim teenager has brought home a coveted British karate medal to Northern Ireland.
The cream of the United Kingdom’s karate athletes met in the Scottish town of Motherwell over Easter weekend to fight for glory at the prestigious Four Nations Championships.
Thomas Bell of Carrickfergus Academy put in an impressive performance as he fought his way through the preliminary matches of the junior (16 to 17 year old) free fighting event.
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The 17-year-old, who is currently Northern Ireland junior champion, narrowly missed out on a championship title and had to settle for silver but looks destined for more major success in the future.
"Thomas is hoping to emulate the success of his coach, James Brunton. As a 16-year-old James took part in his first British karate championships where he won a bronze medal," Carrickfergus Academy said.
"He then went on to dominate the senior circuit, winning a British championship title on six successive occasions along with a string of international titles.
"Thomas has been training extensively with both James and his father - karate legend Oliver Brunton - often up to six times a week."
Oliver, who is currently president of karate in Northern Ireland, is delighted with Thomas’s performance.
“The British championships attracts the top athletes from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland,” he said
“These youngsters are producing exciting, explosive karate and are executing the techniques with precise timing."
Oliver added: “For Thomas to win a silver medal at these heights shows he is performing at the same level and he is on the cusp of achieving even greater things."
Thomas is back into his training regime and will be part of the team James Brunton will be leading to the North East Open Karate Championships in Peterlee, England later this month.
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