Jan Ling members prepare for Portugal test

EIGHT members of a locally-based martial arts clubs are preparing for international duty.

By The Newsroom

Published 25th Oct 2010, 10:21 BST

Updated 25th Oct 2010, 12:37 BST

Seven competitors and one coach from the Jan Ling Freestyle Kung Fu and Kickboxing club head off this weekend as part of the Northern Ireland kickboxing team for the WKC World Championships in Albufiera, Portugal.

They will be attempting to win WKC World Titles in the points fighting divisions.

Amid a busy period of intensive preparations, two of the party – Izzy Johnston, from Cullybackey, and Ballymena's Fiona Fleming – attained first and second places in the recent Best of the Best tournament in Dublin, an important warm-up event.

Other competitors from the Ballymena area making the trip to Portugal include Adrian Craig in the male veterans 85kg division and Cullybackey's Angela Swan in the ladies' black belt +70kg division.