Italian trip is just the job for Bridgnorth duo
Two martial arts fighters from Bridgnorth have proved a hit on England duty at the Taekwondo World Championships in Italy.
Dean Lewis and Luke Richardson have won eight medals between them after wowing judges in both the team and individual events at the ITF World Championships in Rimini.
Lewis, 42, clinched four bronze medals in the veterans heavyweight category for impressive displays in individual patterns and sparring as well as team patterns and team destruction – which involves breaking objects.
Richardson, 14, won two silvers and two bronzes in the junior lightweight competition.
He claimed silver in both the team patterns and team special techniques events and bronze in the team destruction and team sparring competitions.
Bridgnorth Taekwondo co-owner and assistant instructor Anna Bradford said: "We were very happy with the fact that they had both just got to Italy and they had been selected for the England team.
"We thought that was enough of an achievement so we are absolutely blown away by the fact that came home with all of these medals. It is absolutely fantastic.
"Everyone at the club has been saying how proud they are of them."
She added that the fighters, who are coached by club co-owner and head instructor Gary Plant, have inspired several other members to attempt to reach the same stage in the future.
Lewis and Richardson earned their places at the competition by impressing in a series of trials held in Cheltenham.
A total of 40 fighters tried out for just 15 places on the the team with all applicants assessed using a variety of criteria including fitness, attitude, future prospects and past experience.
Both Lewis and Richardson made the grade and were part of an England team which won six gold medals, five silvers and 16 bronze in total at the championships.
