Royal Navy martial arts protagonists have had a highly-successful year – including a powerful performance against Service operation.

1 Assault Group Royal Marines hosted the prestigious Inter-Services WTF taekwondo championships, where Naval black belts proved unstoppable.

Mne David Tang took the poomse silver and sparring gold, Sgt Curtin took poomse gold, and LOM Rob Yarnell and L/Cpl Monaghan collected sparring silvers as the black belts were declared Service champions.

An Army squad which relied heavily on Gurkhas took the coloured belts title, although MEM Adams finished in silver medal position in poomse and sparring, and a second sparring silver went to L/Cpl ‘Lemmy’ Mottershead, while Mne Morris went one better with a sparring gold.

The Combined Services fielded a squad for the first time in the Southern Counties taekwondo contest, where the team of Gurkhas, Royal Marines and Royal Navy competitors achieved fourth place against strong opposition.

But the best was yet to come – on the Army’s own patch, in the Inter-Services martial arts championships.

The Navy had to send a much weakened squad – only six-strong instead of 16, because of operational commitments.

But that didn’t bother the likes of Dave Tang (gold taekwondo dan grades, black belt) and LOM Yarnell (silver in the same category), or MEM Adams, Sgt Brown and L/Cpl Mottershead, who took gold, silver and bronze in the individual kup grades (coloured belts).

The sparring kup also went to the Royal Navy, who were declared overall champions.

The Royal Marines proved stronger than the Royal Navy in the Inter-Navy championships as the Royals were declared overall champions in taekwondo and karate during an outstanding display of martial arts by both squads.

Highlights included the taekwondo sparring dan clash between Mne Tang and LOM Yarnell – great friends outside the ring, but dedicated opponents inside. Dave Tang eventually emerged the winner, by the narrowest of margins.