National student Taekwondo victory for Leeds Beckett student

 A Leeds Beckett University student is celebrating after becoming national student Taekwondo champion.

Jacob Barnett, a second year BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science student at Leeds Beckett, triumphed at the British Student Taekwondo Federation Championships held at the University of Worcester's Sport Arena.

At the event, which saw 430 competitors from 46 UK universities striving for the title in their respective weight categories, Jacob demonstrated skills and abilities akin to an international standard athlete, and in the process, gained selection to the European University Games which will be held in Croatia in July 2016.

Great result today at Student Nationals! 4 good fight and came away with GOLD @carnegiesport #TKD #StudentTKD pic.twitter.com/AKBIjOOwsU

— Jacob Barnett (@Jake_TKD) February 28, 2016

Jacob competed in the Olympic weight group the -68kg male division.  Unfortunately, his Leeds Beckett team mate Harriet Akeroyd, who is also British Champion in the -49kg female category, couldn't compete as she is still recovering from an ankle injury she sustained when she and Jacob represented Great Britain at the U-21 European Championships.

Mick Hill, Senior Coach High Performance & Enterprise at Leeds Beckett, said: "We were delighted with Jacob’s performance in becoming the GB Students Taekwondo Champion in the 68kg category last weekend which secured his selection to represent GB students at this summer’s European University Games in Croatia. I am particularly pleased that he is benefitting from the support available to him through our sports scholarship programme especially in the fields of strength & Conditioning  and Sports Nutrition. He is a fantastic role model for all our students especially his fellow sports scholars. He is living proof that with talent, dedication and the right environment you can combine elite sport and academic endeavour and excel at the highest level."

Coaching Jacob was Mike McKenzie, the lead coach of Quest Taekwondo and Sport Manager at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Mike said: “Jacob outclassed his student opponents today.  In the sporting world, university or student sport is second only to national team level.  The players Jacob competed against were good club players but not international class and as such Jacob had four comfortable matches and wasn't really tested.  He scored a total of 56 points to his four opponents’ five!  The real test will be in Croatia at the European Student Games.”

Jacob has a busy competition season ahead competing in the Dutch and Austrian Open Championships in the next few months, as well as the President's Cup in Germany.

As well as being a top performing athlete, Jacob, a former Titus Salt School pupil, coaches Taekwondo twice weekly at his former school in Baildon to play his part in inspiring the next generation.