A 15-STRONG squad from Swindon’s Phoenix Martial Arts club entered the GTI English Championships, with three members emerging victorious as national champions, while six silver and two bronze medals completed an impressive tally.

Sixteen year old Abigail Shearan, from Highworth, representing Phoenix Kickboxing in her first-ever competition, came away with a gold medal, having been training for a little over four months.

Phoenix Taekwondo’s Hayley Chesterman, from Covingham, also came through some tough competition to win gold, battling her teammate Christine O’Bey, also from Covingham, into silver medal position in the ladies coloured belt competition.

O’Bey also won a bronze medal for ladies patterns.

The men’s heavyweight coloured belt category saw Phoenix Kickboxing versus Phoenix Taekwondo in the final, with Taekwondo just edging the decision in round two following a draw in round one.

Richard Lane, from Nythe, was the victor over his teammate Damien Andrews, from Stratton,.

Phoenix Kickboxing and Taekwondo instructor Frank Wall, from Eldene, managed a silver medal in the veteran men’s heavyweight sparring division.

Every Phoenix Kickboxing member came away with a medal on the day, other medallists including Ian Allen and James Chivers, both winning silvers in their first competitions for the club.

Other Taekwondo students who won medals were 10 year old Imogen Lane, with a silver, and Jasmine Roux-Nel, aged seven, winning bronze against larger opponents in her first-ever competition.

Phoenix Martial Arts run regular classes from its dedicated training facility in central Swindon at Unit 8, Transfer Bridge Industrial Estate, County Road.

To find out more log on to out their website phoenix-ma.co.uk or contact chief instructor John Newman via telephone on 07828 273055.