More taekwondo success for Plymouth Studio School pupils

PLYMOUTH Studio School taekwondo stars Tate Budge and Rhys Roffey have both enjoyed success at recent major events.

Year 13 pupil Budge became under-18 UK ITF 3rd degree black belt patterns champion at Swindon.

The 17-year-old has now won five UK titles and two world crowns.

Tate also picked up a silver medal as part of the boys’ under 18s patterns team and a gold in the under 18s sparring team.

Meanwhile, following his selection to join the GB Taekwondo Talent Programme for the 2020/2024Olympics, Year 10 pupil Roffey took part in his first WTF British Masters competition in London.

Roffey won silver in his first WTF fight in the under-16 sparring, where he was competing against a British champion.

Jon Rhodes, Head of Sports Performance for Plymouth Studio School said: “It’s amazing to see such focus and determination in these students and we’re extremely proud of their performances.”

Both students combine their academic studies at the school with tailored strength and conditioning training and mentoring, including sports psychology, as part of the School’s specialist sports programmes.

Tate, who has been studying for an extended diploma in sport at the school, is hoping to take up a career as an PT instructor in the RAF.  He has also recently been nominated for the Devon Sports Awards which will take place in June at Sandy Park in Exeter.