A FORMER Tavistock College student is to travel to South Korea this month to represent Great Britain at the Taekwon-Do World Championships.
Merwyn Davies, 26, of Clearbrook, has been training in the martial arts for 13 years and has obtained Second Dan black belt status in Taekwon-Do and karate.
She said she was thrilled: ?I?m looking forward to it, but obviously I am nervous. I just can?t wait to get there now and wear the tracksuit with GB on it.
?It?s a really weird feeling, you look at it and just think ?My God? ? it?s not really hit home yet.?
Merwyn had already been picked for sparring event, but an injury put her out of the pattern competition. Then a couple of weeks ago, another competitor was forced to pull out with injuries ? and Merwyn was invited to compete for the patterns place, which she won.
Merwyn, who teaches Taekwon-Do in Tavistock, has been training in Bristol every Sunday since May to get to the position she is now ? third in the country ? and has high hopes she may bring back a medal.
?I know that?s what everybody is out there to do. I just want to enjoy every moment of it; hopefully my best will be good enough to secure one of the top three places.
?I don?t think it?s really going to hit me that I?m doing it until I get to the airport and there?s 165 of us wearing our matching tracksuits,? she said.
Merwyn had to raise £1,300 to be able to attend the championships. She said her employer, First Choice Travel Shops, were ?fantastic? in sponsoring her and the Taekwon-Do club in Tavistock also raised £400 to help her on her way.
?They?ve been great ? and all the kids are asking when it?s going to be on the TV!? said Merwyn.
The Taekwon-Do World Championships, which take place between October 14 and 19, are being covered by Sky Sports.