It was good news all around in March and April for Puma tae kwon do students, particularly Teignmouth mother and daughter Wendy and Natalie McColl, and Exeter student Richard Harze, who lives in Dawlish.

At the recent Northern Championships, held in Nottingham, all three won gold for sparring in their respective categories, with Harze and McColl junior gaining further golds for patterns categories, and McColl senior winning silver.

In addition, at Natalie's first attempt in the destruction category, she also secured another gold.

More good news was to follow as Wendy was promoted to assistant coach for the national team.

This was swiftly followed by more medals at the Puma Black Belt British Championships, where, again, all three won gold for sparring, McColl junior gaining golds in patterns and destruction and Harze securing gold for patterns.

McColl senior again managed a creditable silver in the patterns section.

The event was the first all black belt event held by the organisation and was a huge success with several hundred competitors.

Due to its success, the event may be opened to black belts from other styles and organisations next year, marking a new annual spot in the martial arts calendar.

To round off these successes, both Richard and Natalie have been selected to represent England in Puerto Rico in June of this year.

Assistant coach McColl may also be travelling as part of the team, depending on whether funding for the trip can be secured.

Other students from the Teignmouth/Newton Abbot schools also did well in the recent tournaments, with Edward Colman-Roberts winning gold and silver in Nottingham and bronze at the Black Belt British, while colour belt juniors Lauren Dolan, Tiegan Flay and Adam Flay all returned from Nottingham with at least one gold medal each.

Keeping success in the family, Alex McColl (who trains with the TAGB) won bronze for patterns at the recent TAAGB Southern Championships and has been selected as part of the national demonstration team, along with four other youngsters from the Newton Abbot area.

Mother Wendy said: 'Although some might find it strange that their family members train with different organisations, I am immensely proud of both Alex and Natalie and their achievements within tae kwon do.

'Both of them are in the process of taking their second degree black belts, both are on their respective national demo teams and both are doing well within their own spheres.

'We still manage to train together as a family, with early morning runs and fitness workouts in the local park or on the beach.'