A MARTIAL arts school is celebrating ticking off its victory at another national championship.
Vale Taekwondo, based at The Beacon in Wantage, celebrated finishing top at six successive national tournaments earlier this year, however the Welsh Championships had until now alluded them.
That has now changed, after beating 35 other schools to be crowned the overall Welsh champions.
A competitor team of 29 from Vale TKD took part, and claimed an impressive medal haul, which consisted of 22 golds, 14 silvers and 10 bronze medals.
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Vale TKD instructor Carl Davis had extra personal motivation to secure the championships, as he told this newspaper.
Davis said: “It’s another one for the collection. In 2015, we finished third and I was over the moon as I’d only been taking the class for three years at that point.
“To get in the top three, I was very happy and since then, we’ve been finishing around that top three, but we’ve finally got it now though.
“Although we’d won the UK and England championships, I was always thinking that I’d love the Welsh Championships.
“In September 2000, they were my very first championships I competed in, so it’s been one to tick off for me personally.
“I’m very proud of the group. I never mentioned what it meant to the group, but said afterwards that it meant a lot to me.”
Vale TKD’s achievement was made even more remarkable by the fact they secured more than 100 points in Penarth.
Davis said: “It’s quite rarely seen to get more than 100 points. From memory, it’s happened three times in the last 10 years.
“To score over 100, your students are certainly bringing home the medals to do that. The amount of students that have to do well mean it’s a team effort, which shows the unity and camaraderie within the classes.
“My students and the parents refer to the classes as like a family. It’s a nice family feel that’s been produced, in being supportive and a shoulder to cry on sometimes.”
Not one to stand still, Davis only sees a bright future and more success for Vale TKD.
He said: “I just can’t see this feeling going away anytime soon. The conveyor belt has been one after another, which is great.
“Every class is exciting to teach because there’s so many good characters to teach.
“We’re so friendly and welcoming to new people, and we help them out. I understand how anxious new people might feel, but there’s no egos in the class.
“I talk about competitions in a relaxed way and the students latch onto that rather than me telling them that they must win.”
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