WHEN it comes to fighting your way to the top there's no-one more qualified than Blackpool martial arts instructors Lee Douglas and Shirley Clarke.

Lee and Shirley, who both teach at the Blackpool Budokan on Woodland Grove, competed in the World Kick-Boxing Association Championships in Malta last week returning home with a gold and silver medal respectively.

And it was a special medal for 43-year-old Shirley, who has only been kick-boxing for two years - she's retiring from the sport later this year.

But it could have been a lot better for Shirley who narrowly missed out on the gold medal.

She explained: "The referee stopped the final in the second round because I had a nose bleed.

"You've got to stand by the referee's decision, but my opponent was on the ropes and heading backwards when the fight was stopped.

"This was not a full contact event and so we had to display a lot more skill and control rather than going full out to knock the opponent out.

"I was a bit annoyed and after the bout, fighters from other countries were saying they couldn't understand why the referee had stopped the fight.

"I suppose a silver medal is a nice way to end my time in kick-boxing, but a gold would have been a bit nicer."

Lee, 24, of Teesdale Avenue, Blackpool, added to his kick-boxing record which includes winning the English Japanese Boxing title an astounding four times. He said: "I was really relieved more than anything.

"It's a year-long process of regional heats and fights before you can go to the championships.

"And now everyone at the club is gearing up for next year's event."

The triumphs added to the success of Rob Campbell, chief instructor at the Blackpool club, who won a bronze medal in Creative Weaponry in Hanover in August.

Shirley added: "Everyone at the club is really chuffed. For the top three people at the Budokan to have ended up with medals is a great success story."

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