Wyre Forest martial arts aces are a hit online

The club’s students went online to take part in two competitions – the International Taekwondo Championships and the Kick-Covid UK Championships.

The international event saw competitors from across the world enter their routines, called Patterns, via video link on a Facebook Page which were scored by some extremely high-ranking international black belts.

And several members of Wyre Forest Taekwondo took their chance to shine.

Newcomer Harry Long impressed the panel to claim third place in his division – a result that was even more impressive given that the nine-year-old was entered into the 10-11 year category by mistake.

Amy Perks, 18, and Laura North both took second place in their respective 18-35 and 35+ divisions.

Molly Ashen (15-17 coloured belt), Georgina Munn (35+ coloured belt), Arti Shah (35+ 1st -3rd Dan) and Wyre Forest instructor Katie Billingham (35+ 4th Dan and above) all claimed third-placed finishes.

There was also success for Cradley Heath Taekwondo’s David Cooper, who topped the standings in the men’s 35+ Dan event.

The UK Championships had more than 60 entries from 11 different clubs.

Bewdley’s Issac Munn (boys’ 9th-6th Kup Patterns), Stourbridge’s Fin Evans (boys free patterns & boys’ 2nd Dan and above) and Chris Branch, from Kidderminster, (men’s 1st & 2nd Kup patterns) all struck gold.

And there were silver medals for Wyre Forest’s Jarrett Clark (boys’ beginners patterns), Acer Grover (boys’ 1st & 2nd Kup patterns), James Gutteridge (adults’ 1st Dan patterns), Laura North (ladies’ 1st & 2nd Kup patterns), Meera Pandit (girls’ 9th-6th Kup patterns), Richard Perks (men’s 1st & 2nd Kup patterns), Tyler James (boys’ 9th-6th Kup Patterns) and Blake Clark (boys’ kick fit).

Blake Clark (boys’ beginners patterns) Martha Duckworth (girls’ beginners patterns), Georgina Munn (ladies’ 5th-3rd Kup patterns), Lillie Grover (girls’ 1st & 2nd Kup patterns), Tori Spelling (girls’ 9th-6th Kup patterns) and Jarrett Clark (boys’ kick fit) all won bronze.

Competitors who had the top scores of all ages within a group of grades were awarded a title of Divisional Champion, and Wyre Forest’s brother and sister Harry and Jessica Long, took first and third.

Darcey Mander was the third highest scoring low grade coloured belt competitor, and Ryan Fernihough struck bronze in the intermediate category.

And Amy Perks won the title of Coloured Belt Senior Grand champion (competitors who had the highest overall score for their event) with Arti Shah second second in the Executive Division behind Kingswinford’s Dave Cooper.