THE success of students continues at a top Denbighshire-based martial arts academy.

The Denbighshire Taekwondo Academy was formed in 2001 and, since then, has gone on to produce numerous Welsh, British and even European and World champions.

Its main full time academy is run out of Prestatyn since, but it does also have a satellite club based at Ruthin Leisure Centre.

All in all, the Denbighshire Taekwondo Academy has more than 150 members from all corners of the county; including Rhyl and Kinmel Bay and even from beyond as far as Flint.

It also currently has two students who compete for the Welsh national Taekwondo team.

Over the past few weeks, three students in particular have enjoyed great success.

Hannah Thomas and Alys Davies-Abbott both travelled to Cardiff on Saturday June 12 to take part in their grading for 2nd Dan at the National Academy.

Both were successful and are now official 2nd Degree (2nd Dan) black belts.

Club Chief instructor Gareth Pritchard has also been promoted to Master level 6th Degree (6th Dan) black belt.

Third of the students to standout in June is Autumn Robertson who is aged 8.

Autumn, who is from Prestatyn, was a real standout in last weekend’s Coloured Belt Grading for all coloured belts from around Denbighshire at the academy in Prestatyn.

Gareth Pritchard said: "We had 50 students grading and Autumn was awarded the best student on the day by the grading examiner for her outstanding performance."

Some of the club's other most successful members include Layla Young who has been training with the academy for the past 18 months and is currently a blue belt, being the British champion in her belt category. She is an 'exceptionally talented' martial artist according to academy owner Gareth Pritchard.

Another is Freya Roberts who was the academy's youngest ever black belt when she earned that aged just 8 years old. Freya is also a current British champion and is a European champion in her age and belt category.

Ian Jones is a red belt from Dyserth and is another one who is a current British champion. He started training with Denbighshire Taekwondo Academy two and a half years ago with son Jeff and both enjoy training together.