THE 2017 karate season finished with the Cowdenbeath club competing in the final three events of the year and bringing home plenty of silverware.

The first was the SK 2000 championships which were held in Leven.

First up were the young Tie Tigers, Brook Hodge, Luke Shields, Calvin Keenan, Cole Webster, Olly Smith, Glen Hayward and Terry O’Bryne.

For Olly, Calvin, Glen and Terry this was their first tournament and fight, but Glen and Olly both secured Bronze with Luke securing Silver!

Aleisha Burns also had her first fight and tournament and despite having to fight club mate Elize Bauld for her first fight, she didn’t show any fear or nerves and got stuck right in and enjoyed every second of being on those mats.

Aleisha did managed to get Bronze though.

Chloe Courts fought amazingly showing great timing and is improving every tournament she competes in and secured Silver.

However, it was Elize Bauld who took home the Gold, even though she trained in Ratho with the Scotland Internationalists before attending the tournament to compete.

Robyn Ironside also trained in Ratho in the morning and despite losing her first fight managed to regain focus and walked home with a Silver.

Cameron McKay, Tony Putka and brother Kenny Putka were up next. Each fought well, but it was Kenny who came out on top securing the Gold with Cameron getting Silver and Tony getting Bronze.

First up for the senior Kata and representing the Cowden team was Ben Smith and Chris-Tiff 'O’Reilly, both of whom normally don’t compete in kata events.

Despite this Ben managed to secure bronze with the 2017 winner being Tiff.

Next up was Rachel Duncan, Emma, Duncan and Samantha Maxwell’s category. Emma won her first fight, but unfortunately had to fight Samantha in the second round.

The girls put on a show, but it was Samantha that came out on top. Emma’s big sister Rachel fought excellent using her reach and kicking abilities to secure Bronze. It was Samantha that took home the Gold for the Cowdenbeath club with her amazing timing, aggression and overall toughness. The senior men's kumite was again won by Ben Smith displaying tremendous movement and speed in all bouts, with Grant Robertson finishing runner-up in the senior open weight event.

A small team from Cowdenbeath then travelled to Manchester for the 2017 Manchester Open.

Elize Bauld won double gold in her fighting events and it was gold for Robyn Ironside also.

Both had hard fights in the early rounds but seemed to improve with every fight finally winning their respective finals with ease and large scores.

Sammi Maxwell moved up an age and weight group in her event and fought very well to lose in the final through disqualification for excessive contact, but is now finding the form which won her two British titles in the past.

Lucy MacDonanld also moved up an age group and fought well to secure a bronze medal in her section .

The final event of 2017 was the Scottish National Championships held in Motherwell.

Lucy MacDonald, Emma Duncan and Carla Young won bronze in the girls team event against some very talented and tough opposition.

Kristy McAlpine narrowly missed out on the women's title but secured a solid silver medal as did Sammi Maxwell who gave her best performance of the year to finish runner-up in the girls heavy weight section despite being the youngest in her group.

Allan Goodwin again fought tremendously well in a very hard section and finished up with a bronze medal in the senior male fighting event.

Final fighter was Melissa Maxwell who had just come home from Portugal were she finished runner-up in the huge Lisbon Open, again due to a disputed disqualification.

Mel won the Scottish title for the seventh year in succession with her usual high tempo fighting style and tremendous kicking ability as a great end to her career as a junior fighter in Scotland .

Said the club's Anji Maxwell: "The club will now close for the festive season but re-opens in early January.

"The club operates out of it's own dojo in Broad Street, Cowdenbeath, with classes most evenings for all ages and abilities.

"The club is changing it's training structure in the new year with the normal classes reverting to a more traditional role with Allan Goodwin and Tiff "O" Reilly providing the excellent instruction in traditional shotokan karate including self defence.

"The fighting sessions will be now be scheduled outwith the main classes and times and days posted.

"Final thanks goes to Smart Travel who have again continued to support and sponsor the club. It is thought that with support such as this we are able to offer the youngsters within the club the opportunity to test and compete against the best fighters in the UK and on occasion abroad. For information 07904422968."