THE Hereford Combat Academy Karate team were in full swing at the English Contact Karate Associations National Semi Contact Championships.

The competition, which attracts participants from all over the country, was held at the Alan Higgs Sports Centre in Coventry.

Head coach Simon Small, assisted by Patrick Baker, took the squad of 12, prepared and ready fighters to the ECKA’s largest point fighting competition and amassed a fantastic total of four national champions, five individual silvers, one team silver, two bronzes and a fourth place.

Aiden Huttel took a clean sweep, skilfully beating all his opponents to take the first national title in the -4'4 Boys and Girls red - green belt category.

The second division of the -4'8 boys red - green belts, saw three of the clubs fighters in a division of eight, all successfully dismissing their opponents to reach the semi-finals. Mantas Saulevicius secured his place in the final, whilst two team mates Craig Huttel, Aiden's older brother, and Josh McMillan had to battle it out for the last space in the final. After a very close fight Craig secured his place.

The final was a good fight with Craig making it two golds for the Combat Academy and the Huttel family.

McMillan made light work of his opponent in the third place fight off.

In the -5ft Boys red - green belt category, Kyle Huttel (Aiden and Craig's brother) was fighting in his first ever competition, but powered his way to top spot and a national title.

Josh Small had a close fight in the -4'8 Boys purple to black belt category, winning to progress through to the semi’s where he went out to last years winner in a tough match.

After another close and tough match for third, he lost by one point and had to settle for fourth.

Ryan Hill probably had the toughest division of the day in the Boys +5'4 purple - black belt, with some very large lads and experienced international fighters

After three very tight and close matches and some fantastic counter fighting skills, Ryan had defeated all his opponents and taken the fourth national title for the Academy.

In the Male Cadet section 16-17yrs, Tyler Furnell convincingly secured his place in the final, however he faced a much stronger and experienced international fighter and GB squad member for the top slot and was forced to take home second place.

Fighting in the Ladies red-purple Belt -60kgs, Lisa Huttel was under immense pressure from her three national champion sons to make it four wins for the Huttels and increase the tally for the club. Unfortunately a very tough, more experienced opponent in the final forced her to settle with silver.

Willem Dane, also competing in his first ever competition, added another silver in the men's red to purple belt-70kgs, with Chill Banes and Jamie Baker gaining silver and bronze in the ladies red to purple belt +60kg and men's green to black belt -70kg respectively.

In the mixed team event final, the Academy added another silver medal losing out only to Kingsthorpe from Northampton, who are numerous times team champions and also the current overall Team Champions.

Kingsthorpe took top spot in the overall team standings, with the Combat Academy team finishing second.