Freestyle Black Dragons
attended the world united martial arts European Championships on Sunday
30th November. With competitors from all over Europe including Italy,
Germany and Denmark, the tournament was one of the largest of its
kind with a mass of competitors in every category. The dragons took
some 21 squad members with them and ended up with a haul of 12 trophies.
Instructor Pete Cook won
silver for forms, and also won bronze for the masters section along
with bronze in the team event representing England along side Lincolnshire's
Andy Des'a and Oxford's Chris Hoyles. Rachel Coleman won a silver
in the light contact ladies after a fantastic finale against former
world full contact champion Simone Hopkins then teaming up with Simone
and ex dragon Di Sobkowiak went on to take another Silver representing
England in the team event. Idris Williams won a bronze in the -65
kg points after showing off strong opposition from Italy. The juniors
also showed that they could do some good as well with Ryan Santos
taking a bronze in the -135cm light contact and Sam Sobkowiak took
a bronze in the +155cm points.
Top of the pile were Colin
Muress and Diane Hansen taking 1st in their categories and bringing
home the title of European champion. Di battled with a lady from Italy
in the - 60 kg light contact putting out a fantastic performance finishing
on top and taking the title of European Champion.
Colin has had an amazing
year 2 weeks ago he found out that he had passed the coveted Black
Belt and now he has added a European Title. He had a very fierce fight
in the first round against a very good Italian competitor. In the
-75kg light contact he then came into his own destroying every other
competitor he went against.
Black Dragons instructor
and chairman Pete Cook commented:
" this is one of my proudest moments. All the squad performed
fantastic. Some were unlucky not to have won anything but gave 100%.
I would like also to add that those who did win trophies did me and
themselves proud with Colin and Diane deserving their titles."
