A TOTAL of 11 students from Cheshire Martial Arts Centre gained karate black belts at a national grading event in Sheffield at the weekend.

Stewart Ridpath gained a second dan, with Joanne Evans, Shirley Middlemass and Lee Hardy earning first dans.

In the junior section, Ben Ecob, Liam Welsby, Matthew Woods, Thomas Chapman, Jade Say, Tony Hughes and Jack Gleave were all successful in gaining first dans.