A GROUP of youngsters were the pride of their martial arts club after achieving their black belts.

Several members of the Spennymoor Chi Taekwondo Club, in County Durham, spent two days at a black belt grading in Mansfield, under the instruction of Master Russell Shaw.

More than 180 children and adults from all over the UK attended grading on the first day of the event, and about 100 went for their higher grades on the second day.

Seven Spennymoor students achieved their 1st Poome grade and one student achieved his 3rd Dan grade.

It was the largest number of club members to achieve their black belt.

The students who successfully achieved their 1st Poome grade were Lucy Aston, aged seven, William Curry, aged ten, Matthew McCabe, aged ten, Joshua Long, aged eleven, Jack Forster, aged 12, Sophie Moore, aged 13, and Corey Wilson, aged 15.

Daniel Milne, aged 17, achieved his 3rd Dan grade.

Russell Shaw said: ā€œIā€™m extremely proud of all my students, they have all worked very hard in their training running up to the grading, and showed true Chi spirit to achieve their goals.ā€

The Spennymoor Chi Taekwondo Club trains daily at Spennymoor Leisure Centre and its members range from aged four up to adults.