New Milton karate star Carla Rudkin-Guillen seals Commonwealth spot

FRESH from competing against Europe’s finest karatekas, Ballard School student Carla Rudkin-Guillen has been selected to represent England at the Commonwealth Karate Championships.

At the European Karate Championships in Prague, the New Milton teenager managed a highly respectable 15th place against tough competition – an impressive achievement considering her competitors were all champions of their countries.

She followed that up with a gold medal in the kata and bronze in the kumite events at the English Karate Championships, meaning the talented youngster now holds both the English and British titles in kata.

The 15-year-old said: “Being selected to represent England at the Commonwealth Karate Championships felt amazing. It will be a dream come true if I could add this title to my English and British title.”

Rudkin-Guillen trains in New Milton and Lymington at Southern England Karate Federation (SEKF) by her father, SEKF founder, sixth dan black belt and former England international Collin Rudkin, and her brother Danny, another former England international.

Collin Rudkin added: “Carla has worked so hard to be an English and British champion that I truly believe she will do what is necessary to claim gold at the Commonwealth Karate Championships.

“She is such a hard-working and inspirational person who gives 100% into everything she does. I am very proud of what she has achieved.”

The club also tasted success with another New Milton and Lymington-based athlete, Ethan Stonton, winning silver in the male cadet kata.