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THE 50th Anniversary of the KUGB National Championships saw success for St Helens town as two gold trophies came home with Karate Champions Nicole Donoghue and Katherine Cheshire.

The championships form the pinnacle of the KUGB calendar and took place at the Birmingham Barclaycard Arena last weekend, where just sort of 900 competitors competed from across the country.

Fourth time National Champion Nicole Donoghue, 20 of Sutton Leach, had four hard fights before scoring ippon against fellow England team mate and champion Beth Nicolson of Sunderland in the final.

Donoghue said: "This year was particularly important for me to win for numerous reasons.

"Our club St Helens SKC celebrates its 50th year, along with the KUGB and is the longest established club in the association.

"As it was a celebratory year, they had beautiful gold trophies, which looked amazing.

"Besides that, it’s my last year in the Junior category before moving up to the Seniors, I will do my best to be placed in every competition, so far I have two seconds and two firsts which I am very pleased with."

In addition to her win, the judges presented Donoghue with the prestigious Derek Langham memorial trophy for Outstanding Junior Competitor, one of the highest accolades to be received.

Katherine Cheshire, 15, a former St Helens SKC member won the Kumite over 5’3” as she fought Jodie Garner Jones of Kirkby to win the title.

Cheshire who trains under Halewood is having great success and is certainly one to look out for in the coming years as she also steps up in the next age category later this year.