IT HAS been a successful start to the second half of the competition season for Team Falcons.

The last weekend of September saw Falcons split between the ISKA Infinity South West Regional Open in Yeovil and the WAKO Flanders Open in Belgium.

The Yeovil team consisted of 11 fighters from both the Andover and Tidworth-based clubs and 16 trophies came home. Aaron Smith, from Tidworth, who is a new addition to the www.sbat.com-sponsored Falcons Select squad, did particularly well, taking a first place in both his points fighting and light contact divisions.

The Andover fighters also performed well in the Advanced Light Contact division which resulted in an all -Falcon podium – Shaun McCormack taking gold, Kyle Schulze silver and Josh Poyser bronze. Aaron Farr also took first place in the Novice Men’s division.

In Belgium Team Select took to the mats at the Flanders Open, a competition which attracts the best from all over Europe.

With only eight weeks to go before the Senior WAKO World Championships, it has become part of the build up for most international fighters.

A weekend of fighting saw captain Adam North go out in the quarterfinals along with Sophie Nandan.

Alex Kynaston went one better making the semi-finals to finish with a bronze and coach Gordon Mitchell, Brandon Prince and Callum Hollinshead all made the finals of their respective divisions. At Flanders, the finals are all fought on the night show under lights, creating a tense spectacle with all eyes on the fighters.

Callum Hollinshead fought amazingly well all weekend to make the finals of the -47kg and -52kg divisions but he was to fall short at the last hurdle after two enthralling finals one of which went to sudden death.

Two silvers, a great result at this level. Next up was coach Mitchell in the -75kg Veterans.

The fight was a tight affair with Mitchell unable to move normally due to a hyper extension of his knee during training.

This meant he played a static game trying to draw his opponent into a defensive counter.

It was all even at the end of time but an extra 30 seconds saw Mitchell press the attack and score three unanswered points to win fairly comfortably to secure the first gold for Falcons.

Last up was Brandon Prince in the -69kg and -74kg.

The fight final was a nightmare for Brandon in which his opponent went 10 points clear to win early.

Brandon showed great character in the -74kg fight and dominated to earn himself a gold to add to his silver.