12:00pm Friday 17th May 2002
A CHINGFORD karate club has received a boost, thanks to the generosity of a Woodford Green car company.
Members of Chingford and Wanstead Shotokan Karate team are looking smarter than usual as they travel around the country to take part in competitions.
Instead of pulling various jackets or coats over their distinctive white karate suits, they can now put on personalised "overgis".
These are specially designed-branded jackets that have been supplied by Lexus Woodford car dealers. The orange and black jackets carry the company's logo and the club's name.
Members will wear the jackets as they attend inter-club competitions.
The club has already been successful in competitions and has five members in the national England squad.
It also boasts a British Under-21 champion, Tin Ahmet, and had its first woman representative in Donna Kilroy, who competes regularly at national level.
Under the leadership and instruction of Rod Butler, the club achieved a first place in last year's Essex championships. It was also victorious in the London Inter-Club tournament and came second in a fiercely-competitive Southern Region championships.
Staff and management at Lexus Woodford were impressed by the ambition of the club to build on its success and wanted to be a part of it.
They offered to sponsor the club and supply them with the special jackets.
Lexus centre manager Chris Cowling said: "Not only does the team achieve a high level of skill, something that all of us at Lexus Woodford readily identify with.
"But they also do a tremendous amount of good for local charities, raising more than £70,000 over the past 16 years. We're delighted to support them in this way."
For information on the club, which meets at Rush Croft School, Rushcroft Road, Chingford, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.15pm, and Larkswood Leisure Centre, New Road, at noon on Sundays, call 8364 3606 or visit www.karate-london.co.uk.
May 17, 2002 16:00
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