A BROTHER and sister from Clacks are representing Scotland at the Commonwealth Karate Championships.
Kyle and Abbie France, members of Alloa Karate Club, are competing in the international event at Glasgow's Emirates Arena, alongside athletes from over 30 Commonwealth countries.
The elite championships began today (Thursday) and continues tomorrow - a day that also marks Kyle's 16th birthday.
Abbie, the younger of the two, is 14.
The tournament, a significant occasion in the sport, will span four days.
After the elite championships, the Commonwealth Club Championships will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
A total of 509 athletes are set to compete in the elite category, with an additional 1,310 registered for the club championships.
Both Kyle and Abbie have honed their skills at Alloa Karate Club, evolving from novices to seasoned competitors on the national and international scene.
Kyle embarked on his karate journey in 2017 at the club's St Ninians class, with Abbie joining the Alloa class in 2019.
Their dedication and hard work have seen them rise to become committed competitive karate athletes, earning opportunities to represent Scotland on the international stage.
A significant milestone in their sporting careers came in 2025 when both siblings were chosen to compete for Scotland at the JKS Continental Championships.
Since then, Kyle has gained further experience at the pinnacle of junior international karate.
In February 2026, he represented Scotland at the European Cadet, Junior, and Under-21 Karate Championships in Limassol, Cyprus.
He followed this with another international outing in October at the World Cadet, Junior, and Under-21 Karate Championships in Bielsko-Biała, Poland.
The brother and sister duo have also tasted success together in domestic competitions, clinching gold in pairs kata at the North East Open earlier this year.
A spokesperson from their club said: "Their selection is a testament to years of hard work, determination and commitment, and both will be hoping to make their family, coaches and everyone at Alloa Karate Club proud when they step onto the mats in Glasgow."
Share