Medals and belt honours for students at Tae Kwon Do Torbay

The new year has begun as 2025 ended with successes continuing for the clubs of Tae Kwon Do Torbay (part of the Tae Kwon Do Association of Great Britain.

Last year closed with Senior Student Lauren Saunders being promoted to Fifth Degree Black Belt. Not only was she promoted after being tested in all disciplines of TKD but she was also awarded Best Female in grading for the whole of Great Britain.

The New Year started with students from all over the region attending the South West Championships in Weston-super-Mare. More than 600 participants took part in sparring, patterns, destruction and team events. Tae Kwon Do Torbay travelled with 15 students and came away with 17 medals.

These included Gold medals for Lauren Saunders (Women’s Black Belt Patterns and Adult Team Patterns), Alex Slade (individual sparring), Ben Jones (men’s patterns), Ella Saunders (Adult Team Patterns), Skylar Chacon (individual patterns), Emma Harpham (adult team patterns) and Sharise Sweeney (individual and adult team patterns). 

Successes continued with the local coloured Belt Grading, in which13 students took part with an amazing standard on show, resulting in seven students achieving A grades - Ben Jones, Emma Harpham, Skylar Chacon, Kellyanne Boyce, Sharise Sweeney, Sara Higgs and Leeanne Reynolds.

Chief Instructor Andy Saunders said: “I am constantly in a state of proudness over what our students achieve. The work they put in pays dividends at events such as these.

“Their willingness to support, instruct and help each other is incredible and it’s what makes our club such an amazing place to be. We are always welcoming new students and we continue to go from strength to strength.”

Visit taekwondotorbay.com for details.