Black belt trio make the grade (From Stroud News and Journal)

Black belt trio make the grade

IT was cheers all round when publican Christine Sheehy and her daughter Becky achieved their black-belts with a Stroud martial arts club.

Becky, 14, and her 38-year-old mum made the grade together with 12-year-old Thomas Keble pupil Tayah Chapman-Hurley through the Leigh Childs Black-Belt Academy based at Stratford Park Leisure Centre.

The trio hit the black-belt grade at the testing held at the organisation's headquarters in Swindon.

"We couldn't believe it when we passed - we were both thrilled," said Christine who runs The Victoria at Brockworth with husband Peter.

Becky, a pupil at Ribston Hall High School in Gloucester, said: "It's fun and now I really feel like I have really achieved something."

Chief instructor Richard Herbert, who achieved his 3rd degreeblack-belt at the same grading said: "It is great to have three new black-belts at our Stroud branch."

Anyone interested in the programme can contact Richard Herbert on: 07788 674454 or go to www.leighchilds.com or Freephone the Academy on 0800 0191585.