Summerlands Taekwondo took to the stage once more again this weekend to compete at the nationally recognised British Taekwondo National Championships.

Having trained for the last year in preparation for this event, Ryan, and his small team of 6 fighters: Harry Westmorland, Mya Lightley, Jaidyn Livesey, Clarke Benson, Lexi Sheriff, and Georgie Colvan attended the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield to leave with two National Champions and three silver medallists.

The two-day event saw up to a thousand competitors descend upon Sheffield in the hope of becoming the next National Champions. In addition to their twice weekly sessions, members have attended extra sessions throughout the school holidays and weekends to ensure that they gave it their best shot, whilst also finding time to host a fun day to raise funds to contribute to the travel and accommodations costs that accompany attending this event.

First up was Harry Westmorland, Summerlands only advanced fighter and his first Nationals as a junior, competing against fighters up to 17 years of age.

Although he gave it his all, he lost his first match of the day to a quality fighter in a close match where he showed true fighting spirit.

On Saturday it was the novices turn where Georgie Colvan fought her way through numerous fights to the final of the Female – 29 Child category where a tense match ensued, drawing in the final few seconds, and losing by 1 point to win Silver. Clarke Benson fought through 4 tough fights which could have gone either way, to be crowned National Champion in the Male – 45 Cadet Category.

Mya Lightley fought and won her 1st fight by point gap in the first and second round to go on and win her 2nd and 3rd fights to also become British National Champion in the Female – 40 Child category.

Jaidyn Livesey fought tirelessly in his first fight of the Male – 57 Cadet Category, as did Lexi Sheriff in the female +48 Child Category, both winning their prospective first fights. However, both suffered their first ever defeats, having been unbeaten all year to take two well-earned silver medals.

Ryan Lightley, Lead Instructor and Coach at Summerlands Taekwondo said: “All fighters fought their way into the final rounds of their category, coming up against some of the top fighters in the country and prevailed to take numerous medals and two National Champion Titles.

“We have always said we are proud of them no matter what but this weekend they endeavoured to pull out all the stops and give it all they had and what they have achieved is more than we could ever have hoped for.

“They can all hold their heads high knowing they’ve performed to the best of their ability and earned those medals and for those that were so close, we know that they will be back next year to do it all over again and hopefully we will come away with some more National Champions.”