THE WATFORD FREESTYLE CLUB came back from the Combat World Open Championships held in Chesterfield recently with its reputation for developing young talent considerably enhanced.

The juniors returned home with three medals including a gold for the highly-rated 12-year-old Lee Reddy in one of the toughest sections, the boys under-5ft division which had more than 40 competitors.

Reddy has been at the Watford club for three years and for the last two has been named National Semi-Contact Super League Grand Champion.

"At the moment he is the guy that everyone wants to beat," said his coach and British kick-boxing champion, David Ryan. "Technically he is one of the best. If he sticks with it I think he'll be a big force."

Lee's performance also saw him claim a black-belt grading while fellow Watford competitor Ricky Longhurst performed well enough to receive a brown belt grading.

Meanwhile, in the girls under-4ft 10ins section, 12-year-old Elvy Smith collected a silver medal ahead of Emma Steele, just ten, who came third despite only nine months of training.

"This is definately the best group of young kick-boxers that I've had coming through," Ryan said, who formed the Watford Freestyle Club six years ago.

October 30, 2001 15:30