Liverpool prospect Josh Calland returned from his recent lay-off to add a senior title to last year’s junior success at the National Junior Championships in Manchester.

Calland, 17, successful at -55kg 12 months ago, defeated fellow teenager, Feyi Pearce, 13-3 in the -58 kg weight division final.

He also accounted for GB squad mate, Archie Waldock, in the semi-finals as nearly 700 competitors attended this year’s event at the National Cycling Centre.

“This is a great tournament to get some ring time,” said Calland. “Having missed a few events because of injury and illness, it was good to get back out there on the mat.

“Archie and I train together all the time so it was a bit weird being fully competitive against each other. But having beaten someone who is a good player, I had confidence to go on and win the final.”

Scot Lyle Walker went one step better than his 2014 silver medal, defeating Terry Cooper from Lewisham based Aquila Taekwondo in the +87kg final.

“After losing to Mahama Cho last year and with him not being here this time some people had me down as favourite,” said the 20-year-old heavyweight. “So, I felt confident going into the Championships and not with any added pressure.

“I was also well prepared because of training camps with the Norway and Portuguese National teams in the last couple of weeks.

“Hopefully now I can pick up some more golds in the Open competitions,” added Law raised Walker, cheered on by his fan club of mum and girlfriend.

“I’d love to get a wild card for the World Grand Prix in Manchester (October 16-18). “If not it will probably be the Serbian Open in a few week’s time.”

Portsmouth’s Ben Haines, buoyed by a bronze medal at the recent Israel Open, retained his -74kg crown despite a painful blow in the eye.

“This was my third tournament in a row and I wanted to finish off on a high, “explained the 21-year-old. “I have done the Nationals for five or six years now and always enjoy competing here.

“And because you are a member of the Academy everyone wants to beat you. So, it is good incentive to stay ahead.

“But in my second fight I got kicked in the eye when I was on the floor. It was an accident and my opponent was very apologetic but I couldn’t see for half the match.”

Haines came through to face Danny Brewer of Kang Han TC in Mansfield in the final and again found himself in trouble.

“I was up 4-1 but then got hit by two lucky head shots which didn’t actually hit. That happens too in taekwondo but you have got to step up which I did,” added Haines after a 14-10 win.

Levi Goodridge registered another victory for the Manchester based Academy defeating Kye Tompkins of Chi TC 18-4 in the -87kg final.

“I won a Junior Nationals title before so it is good to have a senior one now, “explained the 20-year-old from Farnborough.

Former GB international Steph Allen claimed gold in the women’s +73kg category while Amy Truesdale warmed up for the 6^th Para Taekwondo World Championships with an 8-3 victory against Nicola Raw of Predator Taekwondo at -73kg.

There were plenty of encouraging results for Cadet and Junior athletes involved in GB Taekwondo’s performance pathway programme as a total of 40 gold, 21 silver and 34 bronze medals were won.

With support from Sport England, the programme provides national coaching and a support structure enabling regular contact through training days and camps for youngsters who are selected onto the Talent Pathway Squad.

A total of 95 medals were won, 40 of them gold from cadet novice, Chelsea Culshaw, at -33 kg through to Adrian Wagstaffe at -78kg in the junior male advanced division. GB Taekwondo’s own Performance Pathway co-ordinator, Emily Mumford, collected silver in her own novices class.

The two-day event attracts competitors from the age of 10 to over 40 with an overall team prize up for grabs.

London based Gurumu, a popular club with bases in East Ham and Hammersmith, retained its overall trophy with 284 points-equating to 15 gold medals, 10 silvers and 11 bronze.

Team Ultimate from Doncaster finished second 120 points adrift but with nine golds among their total of 19 medals. South Coast based BTS came third with 14 medals, including eight golds.

However, such is the strength in depth throughout the UK that medals were won down to 72^nd position. TSA from Sittingbourne, Kent, Dynamic Scotland and Mancunians, JM Taekwondo all claimed one bronze apiece.

*To watch Olympic champion Jade Jones, World Championship gold medallist, Bianca Walkden, and Britain’s other top stars fighting on home territory for the last time before next year’s Olympics, take in the action at Manchester’s edition of the World Taekwondo Grand Prix from October 16-18. Tickets are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/wtgp

GB Cadet and Junior Squad Gold Medal Winners: