Success in Ireland for Evolution Martial Arts

Over the leap year weekend from Friday 28th of February to Sunday 1st of March, Evolution Martial Arts was represented by seven competitors. The Irish Open is the biggest event on the international WAKO Kickboxing calendar with over 3500 athletes participating from 33 countries. After a weekend of action-packed fighting for Evolution Martial Arts’ athletes, Evolution Martial Arts finished in 65th place out of 308 clubs winning one Individual Irish Open Champion, one Team Event Irish Open Champion, three silver medals and one bronze medal.

Evolution Martial Arts at the Irish Open 2020. Front left to right - Coach Linda Baxter, Talon Chambers, Nesta Baxter, Zac Baldry and Coach Nigel Baxter. Back left to right - Paige Stedman, Mackenzie Warrant, Sophie Doyle and Emily Greatrix

Winning the prestigious Irish Open Title was nine year old Sophie Doyle in the Younger Cadet Female -28kg Point Fighting category after beating opponents from Spain, Hungary, Italy and England. For Sophie, this was her third time on the podium of the weekend after winning Silver in the Children’s Female -30kg and Bronze in the Children’s Female -33kg.

Sophie Doyle in 1st position at the Irish Open 2020.

Emily Greatrix represented Evolution Martial Arts as part of a Team Event with other GB fighters. In the Younger Cadet Female (10-12yrs) Team Event, the three woman team consisted of Emily, one fighter from Manchester and another fighter from Northampton. In the final, the three girl strong team came up against a top class team from Italy. The final was close all of the way with all girls giving it their all to take the fight to extra time where it was the GB fighters who were victorious and claimed the Irish Open Title. In her own individual category of Older Cadet Female (13-15yrs) Light Continuous Emily fought fantastically to land a place on the podium winning bronze at her first ever international competition in a higher age group at only 12 years old.

Emily Greatrix taking Gold in the Younger Cadet Team Event at the Irish Open 2020.

Also winning the Bronze Medal position for Evolution Martial Arts was 19 year old Nesta Baxter fighting in the Senior Female Light Continuous -65kg category. Nesta fought against opponents from Lichenstein, Norway and Ireland before missing out on a spot in the final to the eventual winner from Scotland in a close and exciting semi final bout.

Nesta Baxter fighting against Lichtenstein at the Irish Open 2020.

To finish in 5th place were Zac Baldry in the Junior Male (16-18 years) Light Continuous -63kg category and Talon Chambers in the Older Cadet Male (13-15 years) Light Continuous+69kg category.

Paige Stedman and Mackenzie also represented Evolution Martial Arts at this top class competition giving a great performance at the highest standard of our sport.

Mackenzie Warrant competing against Italy at the Irish Open 2020.

All of the fighters from Evolution Martial Arts’ athletes who attended the biggest kickboxing international open competition fought outstanding. A big thank you goes out to Linda Baxter and Nigel Baxter for their coaching and continued support for Evolution Martial Arts to allow the success of everyone involved.