Six Boston Kickboxers selected to represent Team GB

Six members of Evolution Martial Arts have successfully been selected after a tough process to represent Team GB at the WAKO Kickboxing Junior and Cadet World Championships this September in Venice, Italy. These young athletes include Chelsea Leggatt, Jake Peppercorn, Mackenzie Warrant, Nesta Baxter, Talon Chambers and Zac Baldry. This is brilliant achievement for all of the Boston fighters, showing their hard work towards this goal has become evident however now all eyes are set on the upcoming World Championships.

The Six Fighters who will be representing Team GB

Back Left to Right- Jake Peppercorn, Nesta Baxter and Zac Baldry. Front Left to Right - Talon Chambers, Mackenzie Warrant and Chelsea Leggatt.

The selection process this year was difficult for all of the athletes with only two spots up for grabs for each fighting division competition was tough and selectors were looking for the best of the best. The fantastic British National results, good test fight performances, a great fighting season and outstanding effort at the many WAKO Team GB squad training events meant that six athletes who fight out of the not for profit club in Boston, Evolution Martial Arts, were accepted onto the WAKO Kickboxing Great Britain Junior and Cadet Team 2018 and have the opportunity to represent their club and country at the biggest event on the Kickboxing calendar.

For Nesta Baxter who is 18 years of age this will be her last opportunity to compete at the Junior level at a World or European Championships. Nesta has had a very successful career as a junior and cadet athlete with many highlights including 2x WAKO European Champion in 2015 and last year in 2017, but never has Nesta achieved the ultimate title of WAKO World Junior Champion, something which she looks to achieve this year at her final championships before moving to the senior divisions. Nesta Baxter will be competing for her country in the Junior Female (16-18years) -60kg Point Fighting, Light Continuous and Kick Light, this is her sixth consecutive year to make the squad selection.

Chelsea Leggatt is also 18 years old so this will be her last time that she can compete at this level for the National Junior Team and after a successful year astroturfing year achieving a Silver at the European Championships she looks to make it one better at this World Championships. This will be Chelsea’s third year to represent Team GB. Chelsea Leggatt has been selected to represent Great Britain in the Junior Female (16-18 years) +70kg Point Fighting and Light Continuous.

Talon Chambers, 12 years old, has been selected for the Great Britain Team that will be fighting at the championships in September for the Younger Cadet Male (10-12 years) +47kg Point Fighting category, this will be Talon’s second year as part of the national team after his debut last year at the European Championships in Macedonia.

Mackenzie Warrant, 12, Zac Baldry, 15, and Jake Peppercorn, 17, have all earned a place on the Great Britain Team this year and are all looking forward to making a lasting impression on the World Championships hoping this will be the first of many years as part of the squad. Each of these team members are looking to top the podium and have big ambitions for their results.

Mackenzie Warrant will be competing in the Younger Cadet Male (10-12 years) -42kg Point Fighting whilst Zac Baldry will be fighting in the Older Cadet Male (13-15 years) -57kg Light Continuous and Jake Peppercorn in the Junior Male (16-18yrs) -89kg Point Fighting.

Evolution Martial Arts athletes who represented Team GB last year at the European Championships with their coaches.

All of the athletes who were selected this year for the National Team are now all working very hard in their eight week training camp to be at the top of their game so they can perform at the best of their ability at the biggest opportunity of the Kickboxing careers to date. They would all like to thank everyone who has got them to this stage especially to all of the coaches at Evolution Martial Arts including head coach Linda Baxter who without none of this would have been possible.

Finally another big congratulations to all six of the competitors for making the National Team, this is a fantasy achievement for not only themselves and their club but also for the small town of Boston representing it at such a high level of sport. Now the hard work begins for these individuals so that they are able to achieve their big dreams and goals this September in Italy. If anyone would like to sponsor these young athletes to help them on their journeys please contact Linda on 07716510792, all help in any way is greatly appreciated.