OKEHAMPTON Tae Kwon-do Club coloured belts had a chance to grade up to their next belts after months of practice.

However, one member Kate Burgess, was away in Panama and could not make the date. She was hoping to become a first kup, one away from black belt, but work had intervened.

Eleven of her fellow students were all successful one of them even excelled herself. Amelia Picarella put in an extra strong performance and earned top results — an A pass and the grading ward for best student in the club.

Normally only one grading award is allowed per club. However, the indomitable Kate Burgess, though jet lagged, managed to get back from South America in time to take part at the South Molton grading a few days later, and not only scored an A pass but also impressed the grading examiner so much he gave her a second grading award.

Okehampton Tae Kwon-do instructor Guy Southard said of the pair: ‘It’s absolutely unprecedented. Kate and Amelia both did very well, I’m really pleased that their training efforts have paid off. I’m also gobsmacked! It’s good to know after 20 plus years of teaching I can still be surprised!’

He is now looking forward to getting Kate through her black belt test later this year.

‘She has exactly the right attitude and focus. I’m so glad she decided to join her sons in training. We have a World Championship in 2018 too, it’s going to be a busy year.’