Taking on world’s best

Kickboxing champion Dean Sugden claimed a world record on Saturday to help send a group of his protégés to the International Martial Arts Games.

Sugden claimed the record for the most continuous rounds of sparring at an open day at Newark Martial Arts Centre, where he is chief instructor.

He stayed in the ring for 101 two-minute rounds, with only a minute break in between each round.

The feat took five hours to complete, with Sugden in the ring from 11am until just after 4pm.

It raised £1,000 for five members of the club who are going to Bangkok, Thailand, this week to compete against the world’s best competitors.

Brothers Chad (13) and Regis Sugden (12) Jade Grierson (16) Lewis Fallon (16) and Danny Swanwick (11) have been selected.

The youngsters, all British champions, will be joined by Sugden, who will represent England as one of the coaches, and another volunteer coach, Mr Phil Swanwick.

Visitors who attended the open day were able to see the youngsters in action against Sugden as they sparred with him during his world record attempt.

Other members of the club and invited guests from the martial arts and boxing fraternity also took turns to spar with the former world champion.

Sugden said: “I had a few black spots during the attempt but somehow I found a bit of energy to complete it.

“I had such a varied amount of different style opponents, which helped.”

He said 70% of the rounds involved proper, high-intensity sparring.

For his 99th and 100th rounds Sugden’s mother, Cicely, and his father, Malcolm, entered the ring to spar with their son.

In the final round Sugden faced the current British and Commonwealth kickboxing champion, Mark Ellwood of Hull.

A total of 500 people attended the open day at the Castlegate venue to find out more about the sport. Donations made at the event helped pay for the trip to Bangkok, which will cost £7,000.

Sugden said that total had almost been reached now after money raised at the open day was added to donations already made by local businesses.

The International Martial Arts Games will run from April 12-19 and include 1,000 competitors from more than 60 countries.

Crowds of around 20,000 people are expected at the event.

It will be officially opened by the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge.