Team take contest gold and silver

What made the National All-Styles Martial Arts Competition 2008 special was the fact that it was an open event where any club of any martial styles from karate to kuk sool won could compete to show their skills in sparring, demonstrations and creative events.

Attracting more than 200 competitors across Sussex alone, this contest really was worth fighting for.

And fighting for medals is what the team did.

Founder, coach and manager Sam Pulfer (21) and Jonny Taylor (22) and Gina Williams (25) made the team line-up and scored a silver and a gold, making a local club record of being the only taekwondo club in the Horsham district to win a medal in all the competitions entered.

Taylor sparked regional interest after displaying a fine form with a Chinese broadsword, while Williams showed great nerve and composure by coming second in her first martial arts competition.

The club resurfaced in mid-October after a two-month hiatus as the main training hall was moved from rural Ashington to Horsham then back again to Ashington.