Hereford Contact Karate club achieved a fine result at the English Contact Karate Assoc-iation National Champion-ships held in Birmingham.

The Hereford club, smaller in numbers than most, were third overall in the trophy takings by gaining three gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals, beaten only by Bristol and Northampton.

Three national champions returned to the club.

Dan Salter took the title in the men's red/green belt -80 kgs light continuous section and was second in the semi-contact fighting.

The next title came from Rachel Balance who was first in the ladies' red/green +60 kgs light continuous, along with silver in the semi-contact.

Club instructor Simon Small completed the hat-trick by holding on to his national title in the senior forms section, and was narrowly beaten into second place in the black-belt heavyweight semi-contact final.

Other trophy winners: Daniel Hayes 2nd boys' and girls' -4ft 8 light continuous, 3rd children's freeform; Shaun Barrel 2nd men's red/orange +80 kgs semi-contact; Dan Mills 2nd red/green -70 kgs cadet semi-contact, 3rd cadet open light continuous; Neil Bayley 2nd men's red/green -80 kgs light continuous; Janice Adrah 2nd ladies' red/green +60 kgs light continuous, 3rd semi-contact; Andrew Hornsby 2nd over-35 semi-contact; Simon Hornby 3rd men's green/brown -70 kgs semi-contact, 3rd senior freeform; Jay Sheffield 3rd boys' -5ft 4in purple/black light continuous; Sean Meaney 3rd men's red/orange -70 kgs semi-contact

l The club have classes in Hereford and Leominster and instructor Simon Small can be contacted on 07710 775416.