Welsh Taekwondo athletes have kicked off 2010 in style with strong performances at the British Championships. (Taken from Matrix Taekwondo)

The BTCB British Taekwondo Championships - the most important Taekwondo Competition in the UK - were held over 30-31 January at Sportcity in Manchester.

Jade Jones (Manchester Aces), from Flint, won gold in the Junior Female -55kg division with the most dominant performance of any of the weight divisions. This is Jade’s third year in a row as British Champion and, with her gold medal wins at the British International and Paris Open last year, makes this talented 16 year old the number one ranked junior player in the UK of any division, male or female. Jade is supported by the Sports Council for Wales’ Talent Cymru funding programme for elite athletes.

Danielle Baker (Manchester Aces) won bronze in the Senior Female -57kg division. Danielle, age 19, has represented Wales more than any other current Taekwondo player and did well to come back from a serious broken bone injury to compete at the championships. This was Danielle’s first competition since the injury and an important step in her rehabilitation.

Sabir Miah (Matrix Taekwondo) is an up and coming player from Wrexham who was competing in his first British Championships. Sab, age 16, made it to the quarter final of the Junior Male -59 kg division but lost on points in a very close match. With this experience behind him this talented Taekwondo Athlete should have a good 2010.

Beytullah Kem (Team Ultimate) from Prestatyn was competing in the Senior Male -74 kg division. Beytullah picked up a foot injury two weeks before the championships and was not fighting to his full potential but still managed to have two of the most entertaining matches of the championship. Spectators were on the edge of there seats and there was some disbelief that he did not get the result in his second match.

Amy Truesdale (Stoke UTA) won bronze in the Senior Female -62 kg Division. Amy, from Chester, was the star of the Welsh team at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. She produced the best kick of this year’s tournament to proceed to the semi final.

Full results will be available soon at www.btcb.org

Taekwondo in North East Wales has been given a big boost in recent months by the Sports Council for Wales. Jade Jones has been selected for the Talent Cymru funding scheme for elite athletes. As a result she was able to go to the Paris Open in November where she won gold and gained valuable ranking points to help her become the number one ranked junior in the UK.

The Matrix WTF Olympic Taekwondo Club were also awarded two Community Chest grants recently which made it possible to open new clubs at Plas Madoc leisure centre in Wrexham and at Ruthin leisure centre in Denbighshire. The Club now has four beginners classes each week at various venues with more planned in the near future. Members of Matrix Taekwondo range from five years old to 50+ with a split of approximately 60/40 of male and female students.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that can help with fitness, flexibility and confidence while having a lot of fun.

For class times check the website www.matrix-taekwondo.co.uk

FACTFILE – JADE JONES

• Jade Jones is 16 years old and lives in Flint.
• She began training in a different style of Taekwondo at the age of six years old and switched to the WTF Olympic style two years ago after attending a seminar in Wrexham with Olympic Bronze medallist Sarah Stevenson.
• At her first attempt Jade won the BTCB British Championships in Manchester. This year Jade became British Champion for the second year running and followed this success with success at International competition.
• The European Taekwondo Union (ETU) holds eight ‘A’ class ranking competitions each year. The BTCB British International is now one of these and was held at Sportcity in Manchester in August. Jade won gold in Manchester.
• The last ETU ‘A’ Class of the year is the Paris Open. Jade won five matches against players from Croatia, Germany and Russia on her way to the gold in Paris.
• Jade is now the number one ranked Junior in the UK.
• She is a member of Matrix Taekwondo who are the only WTF Olympic Taekwondo club in North Wales; they have classes at Wrexham, Ruthin and Saltney.
• Jade also trains in Manchester with Brian Green and British Coach Paul Green at the National Team Academy.