NO fewer than 26 members of Farnham School of Tae Kwon Do were in action last weekend at the TSA tournament in Kent.

The tournament is always popular with families, drawing competitors from a wide range of ages and experience. Indeed, four of Farnham’s squad were from the Nawrattel family – mum and dad, Rachel and Nick Nawrattel, and their daughters, ten-year-old Tyla and seven-year-old Keslyn.

Urged on by enthusiastic supporters, the competitors from both clubs, several of whom were competing for the first time, put in some exceptional performances in patterns and point-stop sparring.

Will Houghton and Dylan Walker took the first two places in a keenly-contested under-18s patterns division after a four-way play-off for the medals.

Mark Placzek, making his tournament debut, and seasoned competitor Will Oxley won gold and silver respectively in the adult patterns division. Patterns are a technical aspect of tae kwon do, comprising a set of attacking and defensive moves set in a logical sequence.

There was even more success for Farnham in the sparring with another debutant, Eden Walker, and her brother, Dylan Walker, both winning their respective sparring divisions.

Will Oxley won gold in his men’s sparring division, continuing his impressive tournament record of the past two-and-a-half years.

Farnham ladies Lisa Houghton and Rachel Nawrattel battled for gold and silver respectively in their sparring final.

Tournament organiser Gary Foster, head coach and instructor at TSA, said of the Farnham contingent: “I would also like to say the behaviour and general attitude of your students was exemplary. They set a fantastic example for all tae kwon do students and they deserve to be commended. You are welcome back any time.”