Connor follows in William's coat-tails

4:41pm Wednesday 5th November 2008

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Ilkley Karate Club are celebrating again after Connor Thatcher’s nail-biting world-title victory in Italy.

The 11-year-old won the ten to 12 years boys’ traditional kumite (free fighting) open-grade event for competitors under 160cm in Marina di Carrara.

Ironically, it is the same WTKA Open Championship title that clubmate William Coates won last year, the latter having to move up an age group. Thatcher won his crown with a controlled kick to the side of the head just before the bell to land the title.

It has been a long four-year journey for Thatcher from Wharfedale champion to world champion under the tutelage of Mark Outterside.

Thatcher also won a silver in the ten to 12 years boys’ point kumite (under 160cm) open grade, losing out by a couple of points, and was fourth in the ten to 12 years boys’ semi-contact kickboxing (under 160cm) open grade, which was a new event for him.

Coates was fourth in the 13 to 15 years boys’ semi-contact kickboxing (under 57kg) open grade, also as a newcomer, only bowling out to the eventual champion.

Guiseley High School pupil Andrew Johnston was second in the 16 to 17 years male point kumite (under-60kg) open grade.

Both Coates and Johnston also bowed out in quarter-finals in the traditional kumite events, Johnston losing 2-1 when he thought he had won.

Over 4,000 competitors took part from 78 countries covering the five main continents.

In the 20 years since Ilkley Karate Club was formed, their members have won over 1,500 trophies, including one European and three world titles.

Apart from Coates, Thatcher and Johnston, club stars in-clude Elly Field, Georgia Breadley, Calum Kerr and Tashina Earle.