Three Cardiff schoolchildren have kickstarted an interest in karate and are off to a flying start.
Josh Carter, Jordan Allen and Sean Ball from Cantonian High School began the martial arts sessions at the start of this year as part of the 5X60 school sports programme.
The pupils attended the workshops during their school lunch hour, led by accredited coach Rob Green, and having demonstrated commitment and enthusiasm for the sport, went on to join St Pat’s Karate Club.
Throughout the summer Josh, Jordan and Sean have competed in various tournaments and even entered the Welsh Open Championships held at the National Sport Centre of Wales at Sophia Gardens.
The boys, aged between 12 and 15-years-old, excelled in the Kata category which involves the technique of detailed patterns of movement. Jordan and Sean both received bronze medals whilst Josh won gold in this group to become Welsh Champion.
The Welsh Karate Governing Body (WKGB) has acknowledged the impact that the sport has made within the 5×60 programme and the positive effect it has had on these pupils. The scheme is part of a national initiative funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, administered by Sport Wales and delivered by Sport.Cardiff.
The initiative aims to make young people in Wales more active by taking part in 60 minutes of exercise five times a week. It comprises a variety of different activities from which the children choose what they want to participate in. Activities include competitive, team and individual sports as well recreational activities such as climbing, dance and swimming.
Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “The 5×60 initiative continues to be a fantastic success encouraging young people to engage in sport and physical activity. It is great to see that pupils are passionate about the sports on the scheme and I am thrilled that they are choosing to pursue these interests outside of school hours.
“The achievements of these three students from Cantonian High in such a short space of time shows that the 5×60 scheme is making its mark and reaping success for young people.”
Cantonian High School Headteacher, Lois Spargo, said: “We are very proud of our pupils achievements, which is a positive reflection of their commitment to be the best in their field.”
The 5X60 programme launched in 2007 and targets every secondary pupil in Wales. The officers are deployed from Cardiff Council’s sport development team, Sport.Cardiff, to schools with the aim of extending the extra curricular and community programme.
