NATIONAL titles for three kickboxing talents saw a small Tyne Valley club crowned fourth best in the country.

Prudhoe duo Owen Richardson and Callum Beeckmans, both 13, and Caylan Holliday (9), of Greenside, all claimed belts at this weekend’s prestigious WKA British Open Ring Sports Championships, thus earning qualification for the world championships in Spain later this year.

As a result of the trio’s fantastic performances at the Rotherham event, it saw the small club of Ryton-based Aiki Kickboxing joint fourth in the team rankings from the 30 plus teams hailing from across the entire UK.

It is a huge achievement for North-East kickboxing, with the three champions just some of the exciting prospects emerging from the club.

Owen is no stranger to prestigious titles and brought home gold from the World Unified Championships back in 2015.

However, a string of injuries towards the end of last year threw him off his stride and knocked his confidence significantly.

But he bounced back in the best fashion possible to be crowned the best fighter of the day in the -56kg category with golds in both the Light Continuous (LC) and boxing competitions, as well as silver in the full contact and bronze in K-1 kickboxing bouts.

He may have improved on the bronze in the latter but was withdrawn from the competition to avoid injury ahead of his English title ring fight with main rival Zak Marshall, who he lost to by a couple of points in December. The fight will take place in Sunderland on March 18.

Owen’s mother Melanie said: “He had a bit of a bad year last year with three injuries, but the input he has made since Christmas has all been worth it. He’s completely focused and completely eats clean, and always does the pads when he gets back from school.

“The tournament was the equivalent of doing five ring fights in a day, and he won them all and won three belts including the best fighter on the day.

“I was absolutely amazed watching his fights and he was absolutely fantastic; his speed and power meant he was unstoppable. We’re just so proud of him.”

Fellow Prudhoe High School pupil Callum is enjoying a great introduction to the sport since he started two years ago, and the title is just rewards for his efforts.

Enjoying victory in his opening two ring fights outside of the tournament, he built on his success to take the LC belt in the -49kg class.

His father Mark said: “It was absolutely unbelievable as there were so many other clubs from all over the country there. They all did absolutely brilliantly, against some of the big name clubs.

“I have put the cuttings of Owen and his brother from the Courant in a file called ‘Living the Dream’ but this is just the icing on the cake because the fighters that were there were top fighters.

“Callum was chuffed and has been on cloud nine, and he took his belt into school to show everybody.”

He may be small but Caylan packs a mighty kick and punch, and he returned to the area with four medals in the -46kg class.

The belt for LC came back home with him, as did silvers in K-1 and boxing and bronze in full contact.

His father Ross, who is fight manager for Aiki, said: “The lads put everything on the line and listened to everything they were told, and they executed everything perfectly.

“It is great for them to come back after Christmas and do so well, and they have done the club exceptionally proud.”