Another European title for Warrington karate champ

After a closely fought contest against the current European Champion, Joanne Phelan placed herself firmly on top of the podium of the shitoryu kata event in Romania earlier this month.

The LiveWire talented athlete then went on to claim bronze in the open kata event following an excellent pattern of movement.

This is the second time the Whittle Hall resident has come back from the European Champions with a gold medal, after securing the top prize in the senior female kata event at last year’s competition.

The champion, commented: “After missing out on a medal at the Senior European Championships in 2014, I’ve been supported by LiveWire’s Talented Athlete Programme which has helped me to increase my training hours, and add further strength and conditioning work to my training.”

The 24-year-old represented SSK Karate, who train at Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub, and travelled to the championships with four other members of the club.

Joanne was not the only team member who brought home silverware. Nine year-old Daniel Trow competed in the children’s kata and kumite categories – winning a silver medal in kata.

Fellow LiveWire talented athlete scheme member, Annabel Mooney, achieved a credible sixth place in the 15-17 years category.

Jennie Trow performed brilliantly in the 15-17 years open kata and kumite categories on the first day of competition but sadly picked up an injury that meant she could not continue onto day two of the four day competition.

Rebecca Cotterill, 21, competed in her first European Championships after a serious knee injury ruled her out the competition previously. She claimed a fourth place finish in the senior other styles kata.

The club’s international referee, Paula Trow, was also promoted to continental referee at the conclusion of the championships.

Coach, Steve Nelson, who has produced world and European champions over the last five years, said: “I’m very proud of the squad’s performances as a whole. They have trained long hours week-in and week-out to get where they are today, and they thoroughly deserve every bit of success and recognition they receive.

“A special mention has to go to Joanne Phelan, who since placing fifth in 2014 has been a woman on a mission – training hard to claim the senior European title this year”.