A YORK trio of kick-boxers are gunning for British titles - with two of them challenging for the same crown.

Gold medal-winning performances by brothers Richard and Gareth Brown at the European Martial Arts Association Northern Series tournament at Chorley last weekend has put them top of their weight categories with only one event in the series to go.

But Victor Tong, who lost to Gareth in the Under 75kg final at Chorley to take the silver medal, could snatch the title from Gareth at the last tournament of the series, which takes place at Manchester on November 14.

All three are members of the Oriental Sports Association, based at Bell Farm Community Centre.

Richard Brown won the Under 85kg category at Chorley, his second gold in this year's Northern Series, which is open to fighters from all over the country. He won the first event in the series and took bronze in the second tournament.

His younger brother Gareth won gold at the first tournament but missed the second through injury. His success at Chorley means that if he wins the final tournament he will take the title.

If he reaches the final next month but loses to Tong there would have to be a fight-off for the title. If Tong wins the last event and Gareth fails to reach the final then Tong would take the title.

"There's great rivalry between them for the title, but it's all friendly," said Richard, who is the OSA kick-boxing instructor at Bell Farm, where he has been involved with the club for 20 years.

Updated: 11:01 Friday, October 08, 2004