Long makes his mark

From the Evening Press, first published Saturday 27th Mar 1999.

MOST national champions would weep tears of sorrow if injury robs them of a chance to defend their crown.

Kick-boxer Mark Long

But for York kick-boxer Paul Lynch it was tears of joy after seeing his title taken by teenage protégé Mark Long.

Lynch, 30, who is also the current world champion, was confident of retaining his under-76 kilogram crown at the recent World Kick-boxing Association's British Championships, in Manchester, until a back injury forced him to pull out of at the 11th hour.

But his disappointment was soon banished when 16-year-old Long blazed his way through the opposition before beating seasoned professional Wayne Edwards, 26, in the final.

A delighted Lynch, of the Aegis Kick-boxing Club, in Fifth Avenue, said: "Mark is definitely one for the future.

"He could have entered the junior section but chose not too and with me not fighting his success was extra sweet."

Long's success means he has now been selected to represent his country at the World Championships, in Malta, in October.

There was more good news for the York club at the championships with Georgina Browne, 27, taking the women's British title.

The club was robbed of a hat-trick of success, however, when Long's older brother, Craig, was disqualified in the semi-finals of his under-71 kilogram contest for using a foul technique.

The 27-year-old has already represented Great Britain and was well on-course to take the British title until the disqualification.

The Aegis club would welcome new members, aged five years and upwards.

For more details, telephone Lynch on 0831 303093.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

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