THE Inverell based Jin Ryu Kan Martial Arts organisation held its last grading for 2006 at Macintyre High School over the weekend.

Over 100 martial artists from Inverell, Bingara, Delungra, Warialda, Glen Innes and Emmaville were promoted to their next rank by grading examiners Nick King 5th degree black belt and Chris King 4th degree black belt.

It was a very special day for 14 martial artists in the region, nine were promoted to provisional black belt which has taken over three years of intense training.

New black belts were Patrick Allen, Margaret Jones, Hamish Aitken, Mark Daley, Felicity Anderson, Nathan Tollis, Taylor Byrnes, Tahlia Hough and Drew Cruickshank.

Holy Trinity school student Ben Hobday was awarded the 'Martial Artist of the Year' while glen Innes black belt Kevin Rolfe was awarded the ‘Garry Longhurst Trophy', also from Glen Innes Gideon and Nathaniel Donnelly and Callan Rogers-Ellis were promoted to junior instructor.

© 2006 Inverell Times

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