A MEMBER of Crediton Professional Unification of Martial Arts (PUMA) has gained his first International Gold win.
Daniel Parker was one of 23 from PUMA England who competed in the 2009 Puerto Rico inter-continental Tae Kwondo championships and team tournament in Lares.
Six teams took part in the team challenge – two from Puerto Rico and surrounding islands, two from Canada and two from England.
He was part of the second England sparring team.
England won gold in all team events which was the sparring and patterns.
Daniel's team received silver in the team sparring which Daniel said was a "great outcome".
Daniel also won Gold for individual sparring after three matches at two minute rounds.
An ecstatic Daniel said that his months of hard work and sacrifice had finally paid off as this was his first international Gold.
Before the tournament the England competitors went to the city of Lares, where they met the Mayor of Peurto Rico.
The team also visited a famous ice cream shop that had 120 different flavours of ice cream, including fish flavour!
The team stayed at a fantastic hotel with great views, which was just 20 minutes walk from the beach.
Daniel said: "The people in the town of Quebradillas were so friendly and were always willing to help you out and offer lifts as it was a long walk to most places.
"After the tournament we relaxed by the pool and on the beach and hired cars and drove to the rain forest on the east side of the Puerto Rico island.
"I would like to thank Mr Andres Muniz Vega, fourth Dan black belt, and his team for their hard work in staging the competition and for their hospitality."
Alan Quick