TATE Budge struck gold when he competed at the UK International Taekwon-Do Federation spring nationals held in Exeter last Saturday where he won the U18s (under 65kg) sparring competition.

The 16 year-old from Tavistock also earned silver in black belt U18s third degree patterns and another in the U18s power.

These results, coupled with the results of the Autumn national in October. now make Tate the top ranked UK male U18s competitor and he has gained automatic selection to Team UK ahead of this year’s ITF World Championships which will be held in the UK this July.

Tate will now attend UK finals in April where he hopes to take the title of overall UK champion in patterns and sparring.

Between now and the World Championships in July Tate will be travelling to London regularly to train with Team UK (as well as his normal training routine which includes St Austell, Tavistock and Bristol )

Tate is extremely pleased to have the chance to represent his country once more and hopes to become a double world champion having won the U16s world title in Rome two years ago.