Glut of medals for Hereford's Combat Academy (From Hereford Times)

Glut of medals for Hereford's Combat Academy

3:30pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Sport

HEREFORD’S Combat Academy have enjoyed a flood of medals in the first half of the year at events throughout the UK and Ireland.

The first medal of 2012 went to Mark Thomas who collected bronze at The Spartan Grapple Challenge in Bristol.

This was followed by a clutch of five golds, two silver and six bronzes when the Academy hosted more than 200 competitors from all over the UK at the Hereford Open Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships.

In the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pro Trials held in Birmingham, Dave Hyde and Kai Davies collected gold medals, with silver medals going to Tyler Davies, Ryan Hill, and Mitch Young.

Hyde added a bronze in the open weight category and, a week later, returned with gold from the Irish Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships in Ireland. There were a number of family doubles when the Academy hosted a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships for novice and junior fighters. Josh McMillan took a silver medal in his first ever competition, while older sister Skye took a bronze.

Brothers Jackson and Jedd Quinn also completed a family double with silver and bronze medals respectively.

Bethany Draper collected a silver medal in her first competition and Mitch Young, silver and Ben Oliver, bronze, were also among the Academy medallists who took a total of two gold, six silver and seven bronze medals.

At the Welsh Open Brazilian Jiu Jitsu championships in Cardiff, 21 Combat Academy members returned with seven gold, seven silver and three bronze medals.

The team came first in the juvenile team rankings and second in the adults.

Ryan Hill also took bronze in the semi-contact and a silver in the Light continuous at the Tipton Open Karate Championships.