Tavistock College Year 11 student Tate Budge travelled to Paignton in the last weekend of February to compete in the UK ITF (Taekwondo) English championships, hoping to take a step closer to inclusion in the UK Squad travelling to Moldova this summer for the European Championships.
Tate did brilliantly and won gold in both under 16’s and under 18’s male second degree black belt patterns.
Due to the European competition rules, all entrants must compete in the age group that they will turn in the year of the competition. So despite only being 15, Tate has had to step up to the under 18s category as he turns 16 later this year. Becoming English under 18’s champion (along with British under 18s Champion back in October) makes him the top ranked competitor for under 18s second degree black belt patterns and closer to his goal of making the UK Squad once more this summer!
Tate will now travel to the UK ITF Finals night later this month where his place in the UK Squad will be decided.
