A QUARTET from Kidderminster’s Winspers Gym won a small collection of trophies and awards at the North Wales Kickboxing Open.

Against rival gyms from all over Wales, Liverpool, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, the foursome had their work cut out, but all fought hard to snatch some silverware in this semi-contact amateur event.

Sian Davis, in her kickboxing debut, fought in the ladies’ division and was unlucky to come up against a black belt in the preliminaries, but took the fight to her more experienced opponent and did herself proud, only losing by two points to the eventual bronze medal winner of the division.

Team mate James Collings, also in his debut, won his preliminary matches in the men’s lightweight division, only going out in the semi-finals to a Liverpool-based fighter.

In the bronze medal fight-off, he defeated a Kung Fu black sash from Chester in his best moment of the day to win bronze.

Another debutant, Shane Knowles, showed natural poise and speed to win the men’s novice heavyweight division, blazing through the preliminary rounds and pipping a local Welsh fighter to the post in the final by a razor-thin 9-8 score line to win his first gold medal.

Internationally ranked youngster Mathew Lees, one of the Winsper’s Gym’s most promising teenagers, fought superbly in the Youths 12 to 16-year-old division, outclassing his opponents and scoring well with head kicks to win gold and be named fighter of the day.

The quartet are coached by former Matt Winsper, all train three times per week at their world renowned, Kidderminster-based centre.

For more information on kickboxing or martial arts in general, contact the gym on 01562 865195.