Karina wins European Bronze and 20th Major Medal!

Karina Bryant has just won a bronze medal at the European Championships in Vienna, Austria. This is Karina’s seventh senior European medal and unbelievably the 20^th European and World medal of her illustrious career. The heavyweight fighter from Camberley started her campaign in fine style with a big throw against the Austrian representative. This placed her in the quarter finals against Bosnia. Karina produced a tactical display to ease into the semi-final. Here she faced Polavder of Slovenia the current Olympic Bronze Medallist. Karina could not overcome Polavder on this occasion and was penalised for passivity. This placed her in the bronze medal contest against Kocaturk of Turkey. With time running out and Karina down on penalties she drew on all her experience to produce a devastating strangle forcing her opponent to submit. Danny Williams at 73kg produced a gutsy performance in his first senior major tournament to finish 7^th. Danny reached the quarter final stage first from a bye and then from a good win against Topalov of Bulgaria who had defeated the number 2 seed in the first round. Danny lost to the Russian fighter in the quarter final and could not overcome European under 23 Champion LeGrand of France to force a bronze medal chance. Also representing GBR from Camberley Sam Lowe at 78kg lost a close fight against Italy and did not place on this occasion.

The junior members of the club have also been on fine form recently. The under 20 age group team travelled to Italy for an invitational match. Frazer Chamberlain at 73kg came home with the silver medal defeating the Hungarian number one fighter in the semi-final. Robyn Irwin, in her first international tournament, won the bronze medal losing her first contest to the top ranked Italian and fighting back through the draw with three strong wins securing a podium finish. Sam Hughes at 55kg also put in a strong performance to finish in 5^th place and Lasha Lekishvili also competing for the first time abroad placed 7^th.

At the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast Danny Finney at 73kg destroyed the field to take the junior title. He won all of his contests by maximum points to take the gold. Danny also fought in the senior event and placed 5^th-a great days competition. Robyn Irwin won another bronze medal at 63kg and Lasha Lekishvili at 66kg fought his way onto the podium this time with some great wins to also take the bronze medal.