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World Championships beckon for Berkhamsted's taekwon-duo
Two tough cookies have made it to the world's biggest tae-kwondo competition.
They are two of 24 fighters to make it to the ITF (International Tae-Kwondo Federation) World Championships in Seoul, South Korea, in July.
Berkhamsted Tae-kwondo fighter Dave Gurney represented England at last year's European Championships in Croatia, where he won an individual silver and helped England to two golds, but this is on a whole other level:
"There is no higher level of competition in the ITF. For me to be at the World Championships is the best" said Dave, who is a heavyweight black belt, first degree.
"I was flattered just to be able to compete for my place at the trials to get through but to actually go there is just something else."
The Potten End fighter won the patterns and destruction events at last weekend's trials in Bristol and will be joined in Seoul by Hayley Parker, who is a fifth degree black belt and Berko resident.
Coach Tom Brennan said: "It's fantastic to have two local fighters called up.
"It's great news."
Meanwhile the club came away from the Welsh Championships in Cardiff with five medals at the end of February.
Black belt Nicola Brown lead the way for the club with two medals - a bronze for sparring and a bronze for patterns. Darren Hobbs, also a black belt, won a bronze for sparring, while juniors Georgia Swan and Nicola Barke took home silvers for sparring and patterns respectively.
Gurney, who also represented his country at last year's Emerald Cup in Dublin, was one of four club members to qualify as an instructor. He was joined by Mark Hill, Nicola Brown and Darren Hobbs.
Dave Gurney (main pic) and Hayley Parker are off to the World Championships.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Thursday 09 February 2012
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