Demi is crowned English champion

STRATFORD’S Demi Barnett was crowned national champion at the English Open Championships in Guildford.

The event was contested over two days and attracted nearly 500 competitors, including challengers from the Republic of Ireland and Spain.

Barnett, now a Black Tag belt, just one grading from Black Belt, competed in the Black Belt/Red Belt Under 14 Sparing Division.

This was contested over two rounds of sparring for each bout under Black Belt rules, with the ten-year-old from T-UK Stratford making it through each bout to become English champion.

Competing on the same day in the patterns category, again in Under 14 Red Belt using Black Belt rules, Barnett had to perform two different patterns for each round.

She advanced to the final to make the podium and become runner-up, walking away with a silver medal.