British GTUK Taekwondo Championships 2018

Twenty four competitors from Beccles and Bungay Taekwondo Clubs made the 160 mile journey to Coventry at the weekend to compete in this year’s GTUK British Championships and came back with an astonishing 27 medals which illustrates the high standard of taekwondo in the East of England!

Bungay student success included a fantastic patterns gold and silver sparring in the adult female 7th-1stkup for Jade Howgate, whilst Daisy Whymark gained gold for sparring and silver patterns in the junior girls 7th-1stkup division.  Gordon Perkis won a great gold in the adult male 10th-3rdkup sparring and his son Joshua won silver for patterns in the pee wee section.  Frankie Howells battled to a silver in patterns and bronze sparring at junior male 10th-6thkup whilst team mate Malichi Fabian gained double bronze for his junior age category.  Jayden Howgate also achieved double bronze in the black belt pee wee section.  Jed Baddour won a patterns silver in the older pee wee 7th-1stkups and Isaac Slater won a silver for sparring in the younger category.  Brothers Christian (junior black belt) and Liam Everett (adult 7th-1stkup lightweight) both won bronze medals in their respective divisions whilst Toyota Smith also picked up sparring bronze in the adult ladies 6th-1stkups.  Ewan Lutz achieved a bronze medal in the junior male 7th-1stkups but Lewis Flatt, Benjamin Burden, Colby and Bailey Aldrich all missed out on medals despite great determination and grit.

L-R Josh, Gordon, Jacob, Benjamin, Christion, Toyota, Ewan, Malachi, Liam, Jed, Bailey, Jayden, Frankie, Jade, Colby, Daisy and Clinton
Isaac and Lewis

Beccles student success included a fantastic gold for Liam Mills in the junior black belt patterns and silver for sparring, whilst Jason Drake gained double silver in the adult veteran black belts.  Barbara Mazza claimed a silver for sparring in the ladies veteran black belt section and Paul Chapman achieved silver for sparring and bronze for patterns in the 7th-1stKup males. Glen Thomson achieved a bronze for the 4th-6thkup male patterns but Tyler and Blake Goffin narrowly missed out on the medals in their respective junior and pee wee categories but they competed superbly.

L-R Jason, Barbara, Liam, Paul, Tyler, Blake (no Glen)

The clubs can now focus on getting ready for the next grading of the year and It is still possible to start training with Clinton Gillett at Bungay who is a 5thDegree international instructor, world silver medallist from 2000 and current UITF veteran champion or for Beccles 2nd& 3rdDegree Sue and Nidge Bedingfield who have a whole host of national and regional titles. Details can be found on the club websites and welcomes students of all abilities from the age of 6 to 60 and beyond or pop along for a free taster lesson.