lucyclarke

Congratulations to European Karate Medal Winner – Lucy Clarke

Year 10 student at Beamont Collegiate Academy, Lucy Clarke, 14 returned triumphant from the recent WUKF European Karate Championships held in Sheffield with a bronze medal from the 13 – 14 year old girls category.

Lucy, who trains at least 5 times a week between her two clubs in Warrington, Woolston Karate Centre and Cheshire Martial Arts Club after being head hunted for the SKA England Squad for her talents took to the karate floor within the Kata discipline which involves attacking and defence moves in a sequence.

The event attracts thousands of competitors from across Europe every two years. So Lucy was up against competitors from Romania, Denmark and Italy within her category. After being whittled down from 40 entrants within the 13 – 14 year old girls class to 12 and then to 6 in the final, Lucy was judged by 5 judges who each awarded the competitors a score based on her sequence of moves which was in turn totalled up to award the podium places.

On her bronze medal experience Lucy said “I was quite overwhelmed when it happened because I wasn’t expecting to place. It’s the biggest achievement of my life so far”.

Lucy who has only been training since the age of 10 hopes to open her own Dojo (training club) in the future with her fellow team mate and bronze medal winner Jessica Bates who competed in the 16 – 17 female category.

Danny Walker

Superstar rugby player Danny Walker

Danny WalkerSuperstar rugby player Danny Walker, 14, who currently plays as a Hooker for Widnes Vikings under 16s Academy has been selected for the England youth under 16s squad.

Having only been playing on his scholarship with Widnes Vikings for 6 months Danny quickly stood out as a star player and has been called up for the England squad.

When asked how he felt the Beamont Collegiate Academy pupil said “Over the moon! I can’t get over the fact that I have been chosen for it! Now it is time to progress and hopefully achieve my goal of becoming a professional rugby player.”

Danny was interested in rugby from a young age, following in his older brother’s rugby footsteps as he aspired to be just like them. He started out at the Rylands Sharks aged 6 and training has been a large part of his life ever since. He currently trains at least twice a week with the Widnes Vikings under 16s Academy and one a week with the under 19s Academy.

As part of his England squad selection Danny will be going for a heart test in Sheffield later this month followed by a fitness test in Leeds in February. Once he has passed both of these stages he will join the squad officially and the season will start in March.

When asked what he puts his success down to modest Danny said “My success is down to my Mum & Dad, my coaches, school and generally people who have been there for me all of the time”.

Dad, Stuart Walker said “To be selected to represent his country amazed and shocked me as he is only 14 and is a wonderful achievement and great reward for all the effort and hard work that Danny has put it. My objective at the moment is to keep Danny’s feet firmly on the ground!”

The staff and pupils at Beamont Collegiate Academy wish Danny all the very best in his rugby career. We are all very proud of what he has achieved.