For the fourth year in succession Cambridge systematically dismantled Oxford at the Varsity Match, bringing home the Enoeda Cup and all three team trophies. In a day blighted by injuries Cambridge held their focus, and their grit and determination shone through as they left no doubt that Cambridge were were stronger than ever.

At the KUGB black and brown belt course held yesterday in Chesterfield, three members of CUKC took and passed dan gradings under Senseis Andy Sherry and Frank Brennan. Steph McTighe (President 2007-08, Women's Captain 2009-10) and Tegwen Ecclestone (President 2008-09) passed shodan, and Petre Nicolescu passed nidan. Steph joined CUKC as a white belt in October 2005 and made rapid progression, winning kumite gold in her first ever competition little more than a year later. Her progress came to a dramatic halt in 2007 when she badly tore her anterior cruciate ligament on tour in Japan, which took almost a year out of her training. Now fully heeled, Steph's continued hard training has been rewarded with a 5-0 kumite record at Varsity. Tegwen took up karate with CUKC as a fresher in 2006, and now, three and half years later, has passed shodan in one of the shortest times in CUKC history. En route she became the third recipient of the club's annual 'Most Improved Student' award after winning numerous kyu grade titles. Petre Nicolescu joined CUKC two years ago after he moved to Britain from Romania to work as a graphic artist. He has become known in the club for his fiercely strong kata, and has now twice won dan grade kata at the Central Regions championships.

CUKC had another successful weekend at the selections for the England squads held in Liverpool. Emma Nunn was selected for the junior kumite squad and Paul Smith and Madeleine Wood were selected for the senior kumite squad. All three are looking forward to representing England at the Grand Slam on 27 February.

Details of training times, venues and instructors, together with competitions, guest instructors, and other special events for Lent Term 2010 are now up on the website.

The latest CUKC newsletter is now available and can be downloaded by following the link below. Thank you very much to everyone who contributed and helped make it happen.