Shropshire martial artists set for kickboxing championships

A county contingent of martial artists have their eye on world glory next week.

The 'Shropshire 10' travel to Edinburgh on Friday morning to compete for honours in the World Kickboxing Association Mixed Martial Arts world championships.

The week-long event is at the Meadowbank Sports Complex from Saturday, with the mixed martial arts competition getting underway the following Wednesday.

And England coaches Doug Wildman, from Broseley, and Andy Molyneux, from Whitchurch have high hopes for a number of their fighters, who train together at Spartan MMA in Shrewsbury.

Molyneux said: "We have 10 fighters from Shropshire in the squad of 15.

"We would be expecting to get at least a gold medal in each of the categories we have entered —if not gold and silver. That's how confident we are.

"The four to really watch would be Steven Molyneux, Callum Griffiths, Lee Stevens and Scott Stronarch.

"All the others are good fighters, but those four are ones we think could go on to be professionals."

Shropshire representatives in the 15-man squad: Steven Molyneux -65kg (Wem), Callum Griffiths -65kg (Whitchurch), Gaz Morkot -70kg (Shrewsbury), Nicky Bradley -70kg, Toby Thompson -75kg, Dave Gwilt -75kg, Lee Stevens -80kg, Chris Musgrove -80kg, Scott Stronarch -85kg, Chris Kelly -85kg (all Telford).

All the fights will be screened on the internet at www.247.tv/kickboxing/freestream

By ALEX JAMES