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Young kickboxer from Rugeley makes her mark

A young kickboxer is on cloud nine after making her mark on the national and European sporting stage,

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Kickboxer Summer Harvey from Rugeley

Summer Harvey, a Year 7 pupil at The Hart School in Rugeley, was selected for GB’s kickboxing team earlier this year.

On her first ever time representing the WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organisations) GB team at the European Championships, in Hungary, the 11-year-old won her first bronze medal in the Younger Cadets (ages 10 to 12) Points-Fighting category.

Summer’s mum Lynette Harvey, of Rugeley, said: “The arena and the atmosphere in Gyor was very overwhelming for Summer and her nerves initially proved difficult to overcome.

“We’re so proud of her reaching the podium on her first year as a GB member and she will without a doubt reach the number 1 spot in the future.”

Principal Chris Keen said: “This is an amazing achievement for Summer, especially in her first year representing Great Britain. She is an inspiring example to others that with a hard work ethic, dedication and determination you can succeed and reach your goals.”

Summer is following in the celebrated kickboxing footsteps of her older sister Ellie Harvey, also a Hart School pupil.

Ellie was recently crowned as a Number 1 world champion kickboxer, with hopes now high that she will compete in the 2024 Olympics.

And, the Harvey sisters aren’t the only kickboxing success stories to come out of the school. Year 8 student Lucy Graham is a national kumite karate champ and hopes to lift the global title for her age next year; fellow Year 8 pupil Harry McAulay has a national bronze medal under his kumite belt; and Year 12 student Jack Buckley is ranked as WAKO's world number one in two categories, and has also won a place on GB's kickboxing team.

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