Evening Advertiser - 26th April 1989

West Champs

Swindon Oasis Higashi Karate Club have collected their second major title in succesive months.

Last month the club scored a first in the 12 year history of the national Higashi karate Kai Association championships when they took gold in both kumite and kata events at Birmingham.

And they have now followed that success up by lifting the South West title at Taunton.

Having already disposed of karate and kung-fu clubs in previous rounds, Swindon Oasis defeated Bristol Full Contact in a hard fought final.

Individual competition was particularly tough and the highlight for the Swindon club was the performance of Joe Tully, who won the under 65kg category to become South West individual champion.

Paul Taylor clinched sliver in the senior men's all-style kata, while Phil Bentley and Mark Saloyedoff took joint third in the black belt senior event.

Carl Hirthe also shone on his first team appearance by taking bronze in the under 65kg category.