Three members of Premier Taekwondo in Birkby have become British Champions.
Nine-year-old Jamie McIntosh, Caden Cunningham (11) and Danisha Cowell (11) took golds in the National Championships in Manchester.
It’s the biggest competition of the year to decide the best in age and weight group and Premier finished ninth of 57 competing teams under coach Moji, instructing at his first British Championships.
He said: “What a fantastic result for both the club and the individuals. We had some tough draws, but I could not be more proud.”
Premier sent a team of eight – the second year running they have competed in what is the biggest competition of the year to decide the best in Britain at their age and weight – and all of them returned with medals, including the three gold and two silver.
McIntosh, competing in his first Nationals in children’s -30kg, started with a 13-7 quarter-final victory and moved confidently to the semi-finals, where he powered to a 12-point stoppage victory to guarantee a silver at least.
He then showed his potential for the future, however, by winning gold 12-1.
Cunningham competed in children’s -38kg and, having gone out early last year, he was focused on winning.
His quarter-final was a short fight, with his opponent unable to continue in the first round. In the semi-finals, he stopped his opponent on the 12-point rule and, in the final, he won gold 9-2.
Cowell competed in children’s -34kg and delightedly bettered last year’s silver medal. She left no-one in any doubt how much she wanted the title, winning 12-0.
Charlotte Simpson (11), who has moved from the children’s division, where she was British champion, to the Cadet division (11-14 year olds).
She started brightly despite her age, powering to a convincing 12-0 victory.
Kyla Julian (12), competed in the same section as Simpson and, with clubs placed on opposite sides of the draw, Kyla was unlucky to have an older and much more experienced GB player in her half and her lack of experience showed, despite a plucky performance, and she had to settle for bronze.
Simpson faced the same girl in the final and, again, the much older, taller and more experienced Gurumu player overcame a determined challenge, with the Premier member taking a well-deserved silver medal.
Rebecaa Khawaja (15) went out in the semi-finals to earn a bronze medal alongside Tim Needham (15).
Aaliyah Powell (11) was another Premier player moving age groups and faced another GB player in her final. She proudly took the silver, having only just returned to action from having her appendix out.
Master Mosy said he was extremely proud of all his players. Anyone looking to start taekwondo can contact Alan Needham on 07713 837508 or visit www.premiertaekwondo.org
