LINKS Karate Club’s Mitchell Thorpe and Sam Day represented England at the Junior European Karate Championships, in Zurich.

Day received his first call-up, in the 16 to 17 years -55kg category, and had an amazing debut, against competitors from Turkey, Macedonia, Russia and Slovenia.

He finished with a very creditable ranking of fifth in Europe.

Thorpe enjoyed his second outing and reached the 14 to 15 years -63kg final, before narrowly losing to a competitor from Turkey.

It meant he had to settle for silver, making him second in the European and eighth in the World rankings.