Evolution kickboxers on the Bristol Open podium

Competing at the City Academy Venue, the competition saw more than 1,400 competitors from countries including Ireland, France, Italy, Croatia, the USA and Greece taking part.

Evolution members Riley Brocklesby, Mackenzie Warrant, Nesta Baxter, Chelsea Leggatt, Rhys Coleman and Lee Broklesby successfully weighed in.

Day one was light contact, the Tag Team event and Grand Champion competition.

First on the tatami of the day was Chelsea, fighting in the +56kg girls’ light contact category.

After winning three fights to book her place in the final to face recently crowned World Champion Karyna Nikita, the Irish fighter edged it and Chelsea took silver.

Nine-year-old Riley fought in the pee wee boys’ -28kg light contact class, just missing out on a place in the final in the last few seconds of his semi.

Mackenzie Warrant, 10, fought in the boys’ 10-16 years -32kg light contact but missed out on a podium position.

Nesta Baxter, 16, fought in the girls’ -55kg light contact, winning through her rounds to claim the gold medal for the second year in a row, defeating a fellow Great Britain competitor in the final.

Nesta then stepped up into the ladies’ -55kg light contact category, settling for silver in this senior division.

The Tag Team events saw teams of two competing in a points fighting contest.

Nesta and Rhys, 17, teamed up and competed in the Mixed Tag Team 16-18 years sections, losing out to the eventual winners.

Nesta also competed in the ladies’ tag event, pairing up with Karyna Nikita and claiming bronze.

The Grand Champion event saw Rhys, Nesta and Chelsea take to the stage.

Although none of them achieved overall grand champion status they all fought very well in the category.

Day two saw points fighting on the agenda.

First on the tatami, in the -63kg junior men’s (16-18 years) was Rhys, who went out to the eventual champion.

Riley fought in the pee wee boys -28kg section, winning his preliminary and quarter-final rounds before having to settle for a bronze.

Mackenzie fought in the boys’ -32kg (10-16 years) category, pulling four points back in the second half of his opening bout, but it wasn’t quite enough to get him through to the next round.

Nesta then fought in the girls’ junior (16-18 years) -55kg category where she was beaten by Irish opponent Sophie Larkin.

The Bristol Open was Lee’s first competition, and competing in the novice men -80kg division he fought his way to the final before leaving with silver.