There were 44 bouts as 12 clubs from all over the country descended on Rishton last Sunday for an Open Kickboxing Competition.

It was run by Rishton Unity Kickboxing and was held at the Fight Rite Kickboxing gym on Riverside Industrial Estate.

Junior bouts were held first and it was local gyms Fit to Fight Predators and Fight Rite competing against the rest of the country’s finest.

Junior awards went to Shane Allen (12), of Fight Rite Kickboxing gym after a great contest against Scott Walker of Pheonix Kickboxing.

The best girl fighter was Keely Battrick, aged eight, of Fit to Fight Kickboxing, who is sister of young English champion Daniel Battrick as she overcame a tough fighter from Birmingham.

"All the juniors displayed great skill and courage and were a credit to ther trainners," said Fit to Fight coach Billy Battrick.

The adults were involved in some competitive bouts with one standing out in all the coaches’ minds.

This was East Lancs Predators’ Charlie Taylor against John Wright with the award for best senior fighter going to Taylor.

The final award of the day went to big Peter Hargreaves of Fit to Fight following his tough battle with Graham Perkins of Fight Rite which was declared a draw.

The tournament went well with the next one planned for the end of March.

Anyone wanting any info rmation about competitions should log onto www.unitykickboxing.co.uk