A KEIGHLEY taekwondo club are hoping they can use their success at the World Championships to achieve more medals in this Saturday’s ITF Union Open English Cup at the Richard Dunn Centre.

The one-day tournament was suppose to be held in the new Sedbergh Leisure Centre until organisers were told it wasn’t going to be ready. Therefore, it will be the last sporting event at the Bradford venue before it finally closes its doors later this month.

The European version of the event was held in Bradford last year, though it will be the city’s maiden year for hosting the English Cup.

The Taekwondo School of Excellence (TSX), whose main academy is based in Keighley, gained one gold, six silvers and four bronzes at the World Championships in Sardina, Italy, in October.

TSX are hoping to bring 150 participants from their several clubs across the Yorkshire region to beat that medal tally.

Master Chris Beanland, who holds a 7th degree black belt in ITF Taekwondo and is a fully qualified international instructor at TSX, is proud to be involved in the final event at the sports centre and is confident his fighters have what it takes to do well.

He said: “It is going to be a special event on Saturday, in a venue I have loved coming to.

“We thought that it was going to be the first in the new Sedbergh Centre but we were told it wasn’t going to be ready in time.

“So we have the privilege of being the last event at the Richard Dunn centre and I can’t wait.

“On Saturday, my fighters won’t be under as much pressure as at the Worlds, so I think they will do even better.”

The Cup will involve three competitions with the black belt holders in the morning followed by the coloured belts before the juniors.

A range of techniques will be on show from the ITF version of Taekwondo, including sparring, patterns and high kick.

Beanland is pleased that his clubs have another opportunity to hone their skills and impress the audience in attendance.

He said: “The fighters learn so much more in competition than they do in the classroom.

“Usually events are across the country in Birmingham and Scotland etc, and it is hard to get to each one so it is nice to have one on our doorstep.”

The action gets underway from 9am on Saturday.