HEREFORD Combat Academy have their first junior national champion after Kate Bishop picked up the title in the under-35kg category at the British Open Ju-Jutsu Kumite championships in Worcester.

The club, which has only been running for 18 months, can also boast a bronze medallist in the same category after Becky Hayes won her third place fight-off.

For both Kate and Becky, it was a first national competition and Kate defeated her first two opponents in style, scoring with punches, throws and some good ground-fighting skills.

Becky, scoring predominantly with kicking and throwing techniques, also defeated her first two opponents on the other side of the draw.

In her semi-final, Kate worked a very tight defensive game to progress into the final where she immediately winded her opponent with a solid punch.

On the restart, Kate again tried to take the fight to the ground, throwing her opponent over her head as she resisted to take an extra three points. Kate's tactics of constant pressure eventually won through to enable her to carry off the title.

After losing her semi-final to a blue belt, Becky won the bronze with a fine display against a very strong purple belt.

Kate Bishop also came away with a further title after being crowned league champion at under-35 kg, based on the results of four area events plus the British Open.

Despite being unable to compete in the British Open, academy coaches Simon Small, who was taking part in a national karate championship, and Dave Coles, out injured, still came away with titles.

Small was crowned national league champion at over-95kg and Coles took the title in the under-95kg category. Both were undefeated throughout the year and won a total of eight gold medals between them.