Dumbarton's Maia Bisley enjoys stellar start to new kickboxing season

Dumbarton kickboxing star Maia Bisley started the new year with a gold rush at the British Championships in Nottingham.

The 13-year-old multiple world champion won four golds and two silvers in the first major event of the year, a total she hopes will be enough to earn selection for the Great Britain squad for this year’s World Championships.

In the -55kg category Maia tools gold in points, kick light and light contact. Adding a fourth in -60kg light contact.

Two silvers in -60kg kick light and points fighting completed an impressive haul for the Dumbarton Academy pupil.

And proud mum Kim said it was a reward for Maia’s dedication.

She told the Lennox: “Maia was on fire. She was really pushed by strong opponents and got over the line. She was really pleased with her own performance and her dad Stuart and I were really proud.

“That’s what she works for, to go to the major tournaments like the World and European Championships.

“This year she was more determined than ever to qualify for the World Championships.

“New challengers had stepped up to the category, so it was so important to her that she was able to make her mark early on.”

Maia is now training full-time with Glasgow-based Braveheart Martial Arts, and is loving her time working with the club.

Kim continued: “It doesn’t take much to motivate Maia. She’s training six-days-a-week at Braveheart Martial Arts in Glasgow now. Her coaches Iain, Megan and Melissa are so supportive and hard working with Maia and all their students.

“She’s over the moon, but her training just doesn’t stop.

“She’s living her dream. She wants to take it as far as she possibly can. She’s got high hopes and big dreams.

“Now she’s going into third year at school I’ve told her that she needs to