This isn't racing: Sudburians golden at Brampton grand prix

Eight members of the Benoit Martial Arts Studio attended the Karate Ontario Grand Prix No. 1 in Brampton in late April, returning home with a dozen medals to add to the impressive collection these Sudbury athletes have amassed.

Melissa Wan captured gold in kata, while Isla Smith did the same, adding a silver in kumite. Bradley Chaput took gold in 16-17 elite kata, and silver in 14-15 elite kata.

Other second place finishers included John Howard (silver in both 16-17 elite kata and elite kumite), Marissa Meandro (silver in 14-15 elite kata and bronze in 16-17 elite kata) and Ethan Bubba (silver in 12-13 elite kata).

Juliana Meandro chipped in with a bronze-medal performance in 12-13 elite kata, while Duncan Smith finished in fourth place in kata. The World Karate Federation-sanctioned tournament is the first of four Grand Prix events, with competitors in the elite divisions accumulating points in their individual age groupings.

The top martial artists in the final placings will be invited to represent Ontario at the national championships in early 2016 in British Columbia.