Oates' Olympic dream is fading

A SUCCESSFUL Cynon Valley karate club has picked up silverware at the British Individual Championships.

The Aberdare Shotokan Karate Club saw members Michael Caviell and Alex Labanciw impress at the Karate Union of Great Britain’s Individual Championships.

Michael Caviell (2nd Dan) fought his way through a number of hard rounds, beating fellow members of the Welsh squad and a few of the English squad on the way.

Michael’s victory means the Caviell family now have two British champions – his brother Marc won a few years ago in the junior category.

It was very nearly an all-Aberdare final, as Michael’s club-mate Alex Labanciw (2nd Dan) was narrowly beaten by Kai Stroud in the semi-final and had to settle for third place. This was an excellent performance by Labanciw, who has been getting steadily better over the past few years and is waiting patiently for his major title.

The Aberdare Shotokan Karate Club is the longest-established martial arts club in the Cynon Valley.

In more than 30 years of practice, it has produced more than 50 black belts, numerous Welsh champions, four world and European medallists, and four British champions.

l The Aberdare Shotokan Karate club trains at the Michael Sobell Sports Centre, Aberdare, each Tuesday and Friday from 7-9pm. New members are always welcome.

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