EVEN the biggest blokes run when they see this 74-year-old Lancaster woman coming.

For June Gibbons has this week earned a black belt in the martial art Taekwondo.

That makes June of Beaumont Place the oldest woman to secure a black belt in the ancient sport that anyone can remember.

"I remember I was enjoying watching my daughter get her black belt in America when I was about 50," remembered June.

"Her instructor came up to me and said 'instead of sitting there watching why don't you have a go yourself.' So I thought 'why not?'

"I didn't do it all the time but I searched for a Taekwondo club in Britain from Blackpool to Birmingham before I eventually found this one right round the corner from me in Lancaster. I haven't looked back since then."

June's daughter Eleanor is now 50 herself and called her mother from America to find out if June had joined as a black belt. "She was really pleased when heard," said June.

Also overjoyed was June's trainer Michael Lomax who runs the Lancaster Taekwondo Club. He said: "I've talked to one or two people involved in the sport about this and we all know people that age who are still black belts after becoming one years ago. But none of us has ever heard of anyone actually becoming one at 74. It's amazing really."

June was a singer and dancer for most of her working life before retiring in Lancaster. Her dancing may explain why she looks so much younger than her years.

Lancaster Taekwondo Club meet at Salt Ayre on Monday and Friday nights and at St Paul's in Scotforth on Thursdays.

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