Jan Ling members excel in NI Martial Arts Championships

Ballymena-based Jan Ling Freestyle Kung Fu & Kickboxing Club recently hosted the second Northern Ireland Open Martial Arts Championship in Ballymena North Business & Recreation Centre.
Jan Ling members with their trophies from the recent Northern Ireland Open held in Ballymena.Jan Ling members with their trophies from the recent Northern Ireland Open held in Ballymena.
Jan Ling members with their trophies from the recent Northern Ireland Open held in Ballymena.

Nineteen teams and more than 300 competitors travelled to the town from all over Ireland to compete in what has become the biggest Martial Arts Floor tournament of its kind in the country.

A mixture of Pointsfighting, Light Contact Kickboxing, Forms, Kata and Patterns entertained the crowd from 10am right through until late in the evening.

Organiser Ernie Johnston said: “It was an amazing response to our tournament – the place was littered with World Champions, I’ve never seen anything like it up here and I’ve been competing for over 20 years.”

The local club had an inexperienced team this year but still managed to finish in third place overall, behind much the bigger squads of Limavady Titans and Team Evolve Portadown.

Jan Ling’s top performers included: Lisa Millar (27, Cullybackey) 4 x 1st places; Brien Gillen (18, Ballymena) 2 x 1st & 2 x 2nd places; Josie Carson (8, Ballymena) 2 x 1st, 1 x 2nd & 1 x 3rd places; Curtis Donnel (10, Ballymena) 1 x 1st, 1 x 2nd & 1 x 3rd places; Ryan Sharpe (10, Ballymena ) 2 x 2nd places; Aaron Smyth (10, Ballymena) 1 x 1st; Mervyn Carson (42, Balmena) 1 x 3rd; Shalane Scullion (26, Ballymena) 2 x 2nd places; Hannah Dunlop (18, Ballymena) 1 x 2nd & 1 x 3rd places; Deanna Johnston (12, Ballymena) 1 x 3rd place.

Coaches Ernie and Trevor Johnston have thanked all their students and expressed their pride in how they all performed amazingly on the day.

The event was run to support Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, and raised £566.00 for the charity on the day.

The club would like to give a special mention to Jim and all the staff at Ballymena North Business and Recreation Centre for all their efforts this year again.

“Jim and his team’s personal touch made all the difference, they would do absolutely anything to help and actually helped our club organise the event.

“We definitely could not have run the event so well without them.

“I have never seen the support they have given us matched before, and I’ve fought in many many tournaments all over Ireland and the world,” added Ernie.

Thanks were also expressed to event sponsors: Core-X Nutrition, Pets At Home, Tides Restaurant Portrush, Ladysmith Pets & Aquatics, Waveney Tyres, Burnside Garage, Candy Corner Ballykeel, B&H Contracts, Where the Heart is, Frankie & Bennys, Ballymena Business Equipment, W Allen Meats.

The Jan Ling Club train on Tuesday nights at Ballykeel Community Centre from 7pm to 9 m and Thursday nights at Ballymena North Business and Recreation Centre from 8.15pm to9.45 pm.

Contact Ernie Johnston for more information on 07826528200.

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