Blackpool's high-kicking super champs

Patricia Noble, 31, of Cornwall Avenue, won gold in the women’s team event and silver in the women under 70kg category at the World Karate Championships in Dublin earlier this month.

Paul Robinson, 44, won gold in the veterans over-42 category, and two silvers in the veterans over-35s category and the veterans team event.

The pair are regulars at Blackpool Karate, who train every week at Claremont Park Community Centre.

Patricia, who works as a social worker, said: “It’s a great feeling. I was disappointed I didn’t do better in my own category but I was very happy to be picked for the team event and beat America in the final.

“There ‘s a lot of preparation involved and then it just comes down to how well you do on the day.

“We have to qualify for the world championships again at the nationals in March. It would be nice to go back again.

“I’m just so pleased that the club had done well.”

Fellow club member Matthew Walker also won a bronze medal at the championships.

Their karate tutor Dale Noble, 31, who won bronze in the men’s under 90kg category, said: “We go to the World Championships every year but this has been by far the most successful we have ever been.

“Everyone is over the moon. Everyone did their best to do well but this level of success wasn’t expected at all.

“It’s such stiff competition and normally if we came away with anything at all it would be one or two bronze medals, and we would be chuffed to bits with that.

“To even qualify for the team event is an achievement - the top five people from each category get selected - so to actually win is amazing.

“I’m so proud of them.”