SEVERAL North-East fighters put themselves in line for international honours after the final round of selections for this year's UK taekwondo team.

The Dolphin Centre in Darlington hosted the national competition in which more than 200 fighters competed for places in the senior European and junior World championship squads.

A round robin competition was held in each weight category and the winners are now the number one seeds for the UK team.

Four members of the Baek Ho club, based in Butterknowle, Teesdale, won their categories.

Senior winners were heavyweight Pamela Harbisher from Middlesbrough, Staindrop's Neal Hallimond in the minus 84kg category and Sarah Bainbridge, who travels to the club from Fleetwood in Lancashire, in the minus 68kg section. Kirsty Lowther, 13, from Butterknowle, could have a big future ahead of her after winning in the junior female minus 63kg category. Instructor Bryan Whiley said: "We're looking to the Olympic Games ultimately. Even Kirsty, who is only 13, has got her sights set on the Olympics."

Gareth Irvine, 17, from Spennymoor, and 15-year-old Nikki Tomkins, from Ferryhill, both won in the under 68kg section to put themselves in line for the World juniors later this year.

Club press officer Mike Campos said: "The next step open to Gareth and Nikki would be to compete in Athens. This is an excellent result as the competition is at the very highest level."

Two members of the Chungdokwan club, which has its European headquarters in Ferryhill, County Durham, gained top seed status.

Also on the region's role-call of success is Paul Horsley, 16, a member of the Darlington Koryo club, who won the junior male 51kg section.

* A group of young fighters from the Chungdokwan Taekwondo club, based at Ferryhill, took part in the Ultimate Taekwondo competition based in Doncaster. Twelve-year-old Jade Mullinger of Spennymoor; 15-year-old Nikki and 13-year-old Kye Tomkins (brother and sister) from Ferryhill; Michael Tilley from Chilton; and Cari Lewis Fitzgerald all fought well in their individual bouts. Jade, Nikki and Kye all returned with Gold medals. Jade, Nikki and Kye also fought very well in the recent Scottish Open held in Glasgow three weeks ago. Kye returning with a

Gold from that event. For these three, winning has become a bit of a habit. Mullinger has only lost one fight in the last two years. She and all the other young fighters travel all over the country and always return with a good crop of medals from other regions.

* Local Heroes will return to its usual colour format next week.