True grit bags new Brit crown

11:40am Friday 9th June 2006

YORK Martial Arts Academy chief instructor Craig Long has won his fifth British title just four years after almost losing a leg.

Comeback king Long broke his tibia bone in 12 places during a horrific go-kart accident in 2002 but has achieved national glory again in Manchester eight years on from his last British Championship victory.

The accident meant Long took an enforced sabbatical from competition with two plates and 12 pins inserted into his lower leg.

His ankle is still pinned to his tibia bone but his triumph in the WKA British Super League tournament has completed an amazing recovery.

Reliving his blood-curdling injury, Long said: "My brother was racing go-karts at the time and I had a go on a circuit during a training day.

"They are capable of 115 miles-per-hour and I really enjoyed it but then went out for an extra lap which is when I suffered a head-on collision.

"I tried to jump out of the go-kart and my foot got caught on the brake and that's when my tibia bone shattered into 12 pieces."

Long was, however, typically understated about his national success, preferring to concentrate on the club's overall performance.

Gary Kelly and ten-year-old Macaulay Catterson joined their instructor on the winners' rostrum and the team also brought back two silver medals and three bronze.

A proud Long said: "My students gave their absolute best in competition and I can do no less.

"I could have rested on my laurels after the accident but that's not what we are about.

"YMAA is about people achieving their potential whether that be winning titles or just getting into shape and working towards a black belt."

Kelly, 35, racked up his second successive British title at Manchester, while Catterson won his first with a fantastic performance in the junior section.

Ryan Baines, also aged ten, took silver and nine-year-old Kieran Brown won bronze to complete a York clean sweep in that category.

Another bronze went to Liam Willitts, aged eight, in the Peewee section, while Piers Laverick, 17, earned a silver with a courageous display on his debut in the competition, never taking a backward step.

But two-time British champion Jay Spain was denied a likely medal when she was not enrolled for the girls' competition due to a clerical error.

As a result, the 13-year-old was forced to take part in the ladies' section and was then on the receiving end of a questionable judges' verdict, which met with strong disapproval from the crowd.

YMAA's fighters are next in action during a full-contact kickboxing event in Derbyshire on July 15.

The club are also searching hard for a location to stage a home event with suitable licensed premises.

If anyone has such a venue they can call Craig Long on 07766 545972, which is the same number potential sponsors should phone to support the club's Great Britain internationals during this autumn's World Championships in Croatia.