Fighters take world crown

Two members of Newark Black Dragon Martial Arts Club were crowned champions at this year’s Malympex World Championships.

Ten fighters flew the flag for the Dragon team at the competition in Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Buckinghamshire, and all performed well for their club.

Tom Smart (14) claimed two world titles with superb performances in his age group for the semi-contact and light continuous sections.

He won every round to reach the finals of both categories, and then secured commanding wins to claim the titles.

Club instructor Pete Cook (46) then added to the club’s successes.

He claimed victories in the veteran’s semi-contact and Korean pattern section.

Karen Sutton (32) showed her class when she claimed silver medals in the ladies’ semi-contact and Korean pattern categories.

Callum Thompson (17) also secured silver for his age group in the semi-contact section and then a bronze in the light continuous.

Phoebe Coleman (10) clinched another bronze in the light continuous for her age group, while her brother Nathan Coleman (13) secured fourth place in the semi-contact section for his age group.

Dean Cain (16) was another fighter to perform well to take bronze in the semi-contact section.

Jordan Kelham (12) was chosen as the Dragon fighter of the day for his top performances at the world championship.

Other Dragon fighters who performed well at the event but failed to claim a top four place on the day were Ben Smart (17) and Katharine Clayton (12).