A LEIGH-ON-SEA karate school’s members helped the UK top the medal table at this year’s World Traditional Karate Organisation Open Championships in Ireland.

Held in Dublin, 11 members of Westwood Karate Academy contributed to the success, with the students winning gold in seven events, as well as two silver medals, and three bronze.

Charlie Tarr, a senior instructor at Westwood, won the mens individual kumite (sparring), and lead the team to a win in the events most prestigious event, the mens team kumite.

One of the Academy's other senior instructors Marites Tomlinson reached the final of both the individual kata (forms) and kumite events, finishing second in the kumite, but taking gold in the kata.

Brothers Mason (18) and Harrison Gill (16) were both members of the mens’ senior kumite team who, along with Charlie Tarr, won the gold medal in style as Mason spectacularly swept his opponent aside in the final fight of the day.

Mason's second gold medal of the day came when he defeated younger brother Harrison in the final of the 16-19 years individual kumite event.

And their younger brother Brandon (14) won the family's fourth and fifth gold medals by winning the junior 5ft2in and over kumite event, ahead of team mate Daniel Canham who came third.

And Brandon then teamed up with Erin Jackson and Hannah Winning to win the junior mixed team kata event.

Earlier in the day, Mason had also competed in team kata (mens), and along with Tarr and Ryan Cooper they finished in bronze medal position.

The Academy's girls were not to be out done. Erin clinched her second gold medal by winning the U16 individual kata event, and won a third medal by finishing in joint bronze medal position in the individual kumite, along with team mate Hannah.

The Leigh karate academy also recently enjoyed a successful day grading with all of its students passing a number of stringent tests.

Ellie Worth, Reece Hawkins, Nadine Martin and Eleanor Pepper passed 1st dan, while James Cox and Amy Freeman both passed their 2nd dan.

Westwood Karate Academy are currently running beginner classes for adults and children in Southend, Shoebury, Leigh, Westcliff, Rayleigh, Thundersley, Canvey and Hawkwell.

Phone 01702 479197 or visit www.westwoodkarateacademy.co.uk for details.