LAST weekend, junior martial artists from Chaos Gym, Okehampton overcame their opponents at a Thai boxing tournament in Cheshire to become English champions.

Lee Baker, 15, and Chantelle Tippett, 12, travelled to the Northern Spirit Thai Boxing Fight Night in Sale.

Chantelle fought for the Junior WKA English title and with strong low kicks and fast jabs, she won easily with a technical knockout) stopping her opponent in the first round after just 50 seconds. Then straight after was Lee, who's strong knees and kicks were just too much for his opponent, stopping him in the second round with a TKO.

It has been a successful couple of months for Chantelle, who alongside Sammy Jo Luxton, represented the UK in Latvia at the Muay Thai World Games, where they both came home with silver medals.

The club give a big thank you to the sponsors who without their help it would not have been possible – Okehampton Rotary Club, P and I Maintenance, The King's Arms, Stevens Estate Agents, Hot Food, Spar, The Copper Key, The Railway Inn, A L Martin Butchers and Country Sew.

Just one week after, Chantelle took the title of British WKA Champion to add to her Celtic English title and this weekend added the WKA English title to her list of achievements.

n For the first time the sport is coming to Devon on July 27 at Parklands Leisure Centre. Chantelle will be fighting Dutch champion Georgina Van de Linden for a European title alongside many other junior and adult fighters.

For tickets or sponsorship details contact Steve Pender on 07811552906 or email [email protected]">[email protected]