Rutherglen's RAM Martial Arts club claim medal haul in Wales

Fighters from RAM Martial Arts in Rutherglen have been showing their class again, with another impressive weekend of competition.

The team finished second from 30 schools overall at the recent Welsh Championships, having secured 18 medals across the weekend.

And that was made all the sweeter, with two of fighters securing overall awards.

Fraser Byers was crowned ‘adult black belt champion,’ with Rebecca Reilly securing the black belt crown for 14-17-year olds with the same haul.

Master John Reilly, Chief Instructor of RAM, was thrilled with his team’s success.

He said: “To attend a national competition with such a small team of competitors and finish in second place is astonishing, and a credit to the quality and tenacity of our members and our coaches.

“I am extremely proud of the reputation that our school has held for many years and continues to do so.”

The team was crowned national champions recently for the second year running at the the Scottish Open Taekwondo Championships, having scooped 48 medals in total.

The nine competitors who travelled to Wales represented the gym well, with Eve Gallacher, Fraser Byers, Rebecca Reilly, Wendy Wilson, Ivan Biriukov (who recently gained his black belt) and Sandy Thomson all picking up medals in the ‘pattern’ event.

Ivan, Rebecca, Fraser, Sandy, Eve and Wendy were joined by Connor Goudie in securing medals in the ‘sparring’ category, with Ivan, Fraser and Rebecca also picking up medals in the ‘special technique’ event.

In the ‘power test,’ Sandy and Karen Frondigoun both secured medals.

Vale TKD from Oxfordshire topped the table having amassed 118 points to RAM’s 45 – however, they had triple the amount of fighters, with 30 representing the gym, securing 13 bronze, 15 silver