Lytham Tae Kwon-Do show sporting spirit with Lockdown Awards

Lytham Tae Kwon-Do overcame all obstacles to stage its socially distanced Lockdown 2020 Awards ceremony.

Since the first lockdown in March, the club has continued to run up to 25 classes a week, indoors and outdoors – in a field or a car park – via Zoom, in groups and one-to-one for a whole range of students with differing needs.

Students have remained engaged and risen to challenges, entering ground-breaking championships online at regional and national levels as well as club competitions.

The club also staged coloured belt and black belt gradings in front of World Grand Masters, in person or online.

Lytham Tae Kwon-Do believes the opportunity to continue earning medals motivated students to remain active over a challenging year, and lockdown 2020 training made rewards achievable for all the club’s students.

Even before the latest lockdown the awards ceremony was a challenge, with under-18s attending the indoor ceremony, while adult students joined in via Zoom from the car park, and vulnerable students and family members interacted from home.

More than 100 medals were presented a well as 40 trophies to winners and runners-up for grading, kicking competitions, quiz nights, kit design, attendance and student of the month.

The coveted student of the year awards went to Ethan Gill (aged 16), Kirsty Ingleby (15) and Oliver Swindells (12), who all passed their black belt grading and volunteered as teachers in person and online.

The Lockdown Grand Champion Award went to Ruby Russell (12), who embraced and excelled at the ‘Five Ways of Wellbeing’.

A new Kindness Award was presented to adult students Janet Neville and Lori Dale for going above and beyond in supporting their club throughout the most challenging period of its 16-year history.

Owner and instructor Dianne Russell said: “Last year wasn’t easy but we did it.

“Indomitable spirit is one of the five tenets of Tae Kwon-Do and served us extremely well during this pandemic.

“Everyone worked so hard at staying connected and active. Many students excelled in extremely difficult conditions and we wanted to reward their efforts.

“An awards ceremony of this magnitude wouldn’t have been possible without valuable funding from Fylde Council, Active Lancashire and Collinson Construction and is truly appreciated by all.

“It enabled our club to end 2020 on a sporting high with a grand finale!”