SILVER MEDAL FOR NORTHAMPTON'S KICKBOXER JOE WATKINS
SUCCESS AT 2015 WAKO EUROPEAN CADETS AND JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Joe Watkins' successful 2015 just keeps on getting better - the 17 year-old from Northampton has just won silver at the WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organisations) European Championships in Spain.
Joe competed as part of the GB Team and is delighted and very proud to bring home a silver medal for his country.
Joe receives funding to help with training and expenses for such events from Northamptonshire-based charity The Travers Foundation. The Travers Foundation helps 13 to 30 year olds living in Northamptonshire, Rutland or Leicestershire improve their skills in sports, the creative arts and the performing arts.
The WAKO European Championships took place from 25th to 29th August in San Sebastien, with over 1300 competitors from 36 European countries competing.
Joe made it to the finals in the Junior -69kg points fighting category after some tough three x two minute fights against Alparslan Turk (Turkey) with a clean 10 – 0 victory; Zoltan Laurincz (Hungary) and then, even more importantly, with the world Number One in this category, Simone De Vita (Italy), in the semi-finals. The fight with De Vita was extremely close with Joe just having a two point lead when the final bell went.
The final, held on the Saturday, was a first for Team GB with two GB fighters competing for the European title. Joe was up against De-Reece Williams, with whom he trains twice a week in Stoke on Trent, and De-Reece is the current World Champion.
De-Reece went into the final as the favourite as he has been competing at international level for many years and holds numerous titles. Neither fighter was allowed anyone to coach them as they were from the same country. It was a great fight between the two and Joe never gave up. After a tough and entertaining three rounds, Joe lost out to De-Reece by just four points and took the silver medal.
Joe was obviously disappointed not to take Gold but was over the moon to win a Silver Medal on only his second outing for Team GB. He now has his eyes firmly set on Gold at the World Championships in Dublin next August and the training for this has already begun.
Joe said “I have loved every minute of the European Championships. I was really pleased with my fighting on every outing and so were my coaches. I now know what I have to work on for next year, there is still a lot more to do. I’ve forged many new international friendships and cemented existing friendships within the GB team. The GB team came fifth in the medal table overall after Hungary, Italy, Ireland and the Russian Federation The final medal count was six Gold, five Silver and six Bronze which is brilliant. I can’t wait for next year.”
Selections for next year’s GB squad start early next year at the British Championships and through regular squad training sessions and camps. Joe will continue his tough training regime five times a week as well as competing on the national and international circuit.
For further information on the work of the Travers Foundation please visit www.travers-foundation.org.uk
ends
Press information – Terry Forsey, The Travers Foundation – 01536 771440
The Travers Foundation - registered charity number 1154203
The Travers Foundation press releases are carefully crafted by Helen Bach.
If you need any assistance with press releases, blogs, brochures, website content please email Helen here
Joe Watkins' successful 2015 just keeps on getting better - the 17 year-old from Northampton has just won silver at the WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organisations) European Championships in Spain.
Joe competed as part of the GB Team and is delighted and very proud to bring home a silver medal for his country.
Joe receives funding to help with training and expenses for such events from Northamptonshire-based charity The Travers Foundation. The Travers Foundation helps 13 to 30 year olds living in Northamptonshire, Rutland or Leicestershire improve their skills in sports, the creative arts and the performing arts.
The WAKO European Championships took place from 25th to 29th August in San Sebastien, with over 1300 competitors from 36 European countries competing.
Joe made it to the finals in the Junior -69kg points fighting category after some tough three x two minute fights against Alparslan Turk (Turkey) with a clean 10 – 0 victory; Zoltan Laurincz (Hungary) and then, even more importantly, with the world Number One in this category, Simone De Vita (Italy), in the semi-finals. The fight with De Vita was extremely close with Joe just having a two point lead when the final bell went.
The final, held on the Saturday, was a first for Team GB with two GB fighters competing for the European title. Joe was up against De-Reece Williams, with whom he trains twice a week in Stoke on Trent, and De-Reece is the current World Champion.
De-Reece went into the final as the favourite as he has been competing at international level for many years and holds numerous titles. Neither fighter was allowed anyone to coach them as they were from the same country. It was a great fight between the two and Joe never gave up. After a tough and entertaining three rounds, Joe lost out to De-Reece by just four points and took the silver medal.
Joe was obviously disappointed not to take Gold but was over the moon to win a Silver Medal on only his second outing for Team GB. He now has his eyes firmly set on Gold at the World Championships in Dublin next August and the training for this has already begun.
Joe said “I have loved every minute of the European Championships. I was really pleased with my fighting on every outing and so were my coaches. I now know what I have to work on for next year, there is still a lot more to do. I’ve forged many new international friendships and cemented existing friendships within the GB team. The GB team came fifth in the medal table overall after Hungary, Italy, Ireland and the Russian Federation The final medal count was six Gold, five Silver and six Bronze which is brilliant. I can’t wait for next year.”
Selections for next year’s GB squad start early next year at the British Championships and through regular squad training sessions and camps. Joe will continue his tough training regime five times a week as well as competing on the national and international circuit.
For further information on the work of the Travers Foundation please visit www.travers-foundation.org.uk
ends
Press information – Terry Forsey, The Travers Foundation – 01536 771440
The Travers Foundation - registered charity number 1154203
The Travers Foundation press releases are carefully crafted by Helen Bach.
If you need any assistance with press releases, blogs, brochures, website content please email Helen here