THE annual Matt Fiddes Martial Arts Northern Championships took place in Penrith last weekend and children from across Great Sankey returned victorious.

Matt Fiddes Cheshire, which is run by chief instructor Master Steve James, took a team of 45 children to compete at the championships which attracted students from Manchester, Wigan, Cheshire and Scotland.

Master James has been teaching schools in Great Sankey, St Helens and Widnes since September 2004 and this year the team broke its medal record.

Gold medal winners from Great Sankey schools included, Navneeth Vishwanath, Cath Baguley, Rachel Williams, Zack Rutter, Cody Rutter, Ella James, Josh Lawton, Anna-Mai Larkin, Zac Dubique, Joshua McArthy Booth, Dante Waterworth, Ella Coleman, Charlotte Geoghegan and Nathan Heywood

Other medals were won by Louis James, Ethan Connolly, Jacob Naidu, Jack Ryder, Lily Welch, Tom Welch, Ankita Raju, Nirek Jaglan, Jasmine Dubique, Michael Couch, Jack Reeves and Lewis James,

Steve added: “Congratulations to Max and Luke Baguley who were unlucky not to win a medal but have worked so hard on the run up to the tournament.”

Steve, who organises all the competitions for Matt Fiddes, said: “We have had four tournaments over the last three weeks and this has been far the best one.

“I am so proud of the students and the team. I would like to thank Steven Larkin, Matt Rutter, Chloe Nesbitt, Darren Spruce and Ryan Clark who have helped the team get a record number of medals.”