York Way of Life Muay Thai Boxing Club win medals at championships (From York Press)

York Way of Life Muay Thai Boxing Club win medals at championships

10:26am Saturday 5th March 2011 in Sport By Tony Kelly, Deputy sports editor

YORK’S status as a one of the country’s growing martial arts bases gained another lift with a fine medal haul from the World Association of Kick Boxing Organisation’s British Championships.

Six fighters from the York Way of Life Muay Thai Boxing Club competed, with half of them returning with medals.

Courtney Catterson bagged silver while there were bronzes for her sister, Megan Catterson, and Sam Watkinson.

All three will now go on to represent Great Britain in the European Championships to be held in Italy in the autumn.

The other three warriors from the Way of Life Club, which operates out of the Multi Masters Academy in York’s Layerthorpe, were brothers Connor and Keenan Crayke and Rhys Lane-Capper.

Said club chief instructor Andy Wilby: “They all fought fantastically well and with WAKO being the biggest kick boxing organisation in the world, this is among their top events in Britain, so it was a good test.

“To come back with three of our youngsters getting medals and earning GB recognition was great.”

More recognition was prised from both the WAKO championships and the separate World Kick Boxing Organisation (WKC) event by members of the United Martial Arts College in Norton run by Tony Dias.

Besides Dias winning his eighth WKC British title, there were three British crowns in various weapons disciplines for Connor Allan, while Andrew Garside won two golds and one bronze.

Memit Tuyzus won a silver and bronze; Martin Baulkins took gold and bronze; Sonny O’Neill bagged a silver and bronze and his brother Jim Henry O’Neill gained two bronzes and a silver.

WKC title-winners qualify for the world championships in Spain in October.

The bulk of these fighters will feature on Cage Confrontation II, the second cage-fighting bill in York, at Energise a week tonight.

The event is promoted by United Masters Promotions, which is run by Dias and Multi Masters Academy founder Gaz Watkinson.

Tickets are available from Dias by phoning 07956 612667 or Watkinson on 07798 765259.