Gold rush continues for karate star Carla Rudkin-Guillen

NEW Milton’s Carla Rudkin-Guillen has won back-to-back competitions as she now turns her sights on the junior world championships in Venice.

The 17-year-old Brockenhurst College student won gold at the English International Open just two weeks after taking gold at the British International Open.

Rudkin-Guillen, trained by her father, Collin Rudkin at New Milton and Lymington-based Southern England Karate Federation (SEKF), was part of a team of four local martial artists at the championship, a compulsory competition for all Karate England athletes.

Collin said: “Carla was in fantastic form and really peaked, winning gold with some excellent scores in the female junior kata competition.

“Two important gold medals in two weeks can only be a massive positive for her mindset four weeks before the junior world championships begin.”

The three-time English kata champion spent most of her summer inside a gym in Spain as part of her world championship preparations.

Collin added: “In addition to Carla’s gold, my other athlete, Denis Margolin, who is also an England squad member, won gold in the cadet male -63kg kumite. In the final, Denis beat the current number one, who is representing England in Italy.

“My other two athletes, Chris Cytus and Emma Barnes, both managed a couple of rounds and gained good experience.”

Rudkin-Guillen is sponsored by Little Lives UK, AVA Sports Ltd (Arawaza), and the Lions Club of New Milton.