FOUR young kickboxers will be competing on the international stage thanks to a boost from Malton and Norton Lions Club.

Theo Sawdon, eight, Toby Sawdon, six, Denim Burdett, 12, and Isaac Crombie, 15, all train at the United Martial Arts College in Malton under black belt Tony Dias, and will be travelling to Portugal and Jamaica with support from the Lions.

Tony said: “We are very grateful to Malton and Norton Lions Club for supporting the lads to compete in these international competitions.

“I teach them life skills alongside kickboxing that set them up for life and build their confidence and it is great that the Lions believe in the lads and their ambition to succeed in the sport.”

Theo Sawdon won his first world title in the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) world kickboxing championships in Greece last year. He will travel to Jamaica to defend his title in this year’s ISKA world kickboxing championships in September. His little brother Toby will be competing in his first world championships.

Denim Burdett has won the World Karate and Kickboxing Commission (WKKC) British title. He also gained a third place in ISKA Worlds in Greece last year and wants to go for gold this year in ISKA Worlds in Jamaica.

Isaac Crombie has won British titles. He competed in the International Combat Organisation (ICO) Worlds last year, and will compete for gold in the World Martial Arts Organisation (WMO) world championship in Portugal at the end of next month.

Steve Sidaway, Malton and Norton Lion president, said: “The Lions are keen to support young people in the Malton and Norton area and encourage their aims and ambitions in their chosen interest, be it travelling, volunteering or in sport."

“The lads that Tony has trained are already highly skilled and have worked hard to achieve what they have done so far – it’s a pleasure to help them travel to compete at such a high level on the international competition circuit and we wish them every success when they jet off in September.”