AFTER nearly two years of disruption because of the pandemic, Farnham School of Tae Kwon Do has returned to the competitive arena.

Having fielded a squad heavily depleted by Covid at the GTI British Open late last year, the GTI English Open in Cheltenham saw many more Tae Kwon Do clubs and organisations getting back to something approaching full strength.

A small squad from Farnham enjoyed being in the thick of competitive Tae Kwon Do once again.

The high standard of the competitors and the exhilarating atmosphere created by the spectators made it an event to remember.

Farnham’s first medals of the day were won in the patterns categories with Tobias Carter, ten – in his first tournament – and Keslyn Nawrattel, nine, both winning bronze.

Keslyn then won her second medal of the day, a silver in her point-stop sparring category.

There was further success in sparring with Ollie Verrian, 16, winning a battling bronze in his continuous sparring division.

The impressive Dylan Walker, 13, enhanced his reputation, winning silver, after three fiercely-contested bouts in continuous sparring against more experienced opponents.

It wasn’t all about the youngsters, though – top performer for the adults was Will Oxley in the veteran men division.

Will has been a prolific medal winner as a coloured belt but following his recent promotion, this was the first time he had competed as a black belt.

The only new black belt in a category comprising several hardened competitors, Will won his first three bouts and was only beaten in his fourth bout of the day, the final, by the most slender of margins.

The silver medal was a satisfying return on his first outing as a black belt.

Although pleased with a haul of six medals, coach Tim Ayres-Townshend said he was even more delighted the Tae Kwon Do community are all able to get back to meeting at national tournaments – something that has been so sorely missed during the past two years.