CALNE instructor Katie Franks made her lengthy trip to Poland worthwhile by picking up a brace of bronze medals in the International Open European Championships recently.

Franks, 25, claimed third place finishes in both the senior women’s black belt point stop sparring and continuous sparring categories at +67kgs.

More than 800 competitors from 18 countries took part in the championships, Franks sailing through her early rounds in the point stop sparring section.

She eventually took bronze behind Scotland’s Hazel Bracken and Russia’s Irina Konnova.

In the continuous sparring section, Franks was able to reach the last four, eventually finishing behind compatriots Nicola Line and Debbie Hill.

Franks is affiliated to the Calne School of Tae Kwon-Do under the TAGB (Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain).

Instructor Martyn Dipper (5th Dan) said: “I’m really pleased with Katie's performance.

“She had some tough fights and excelled.

“She pushed our current ladies champion hard and nearly won.

“I’m sure we'll work on a few things over the next few months to help her achieve that.’’ Franks works at Bath University and has been training since February 2002, becoming a 3rd degree black belt under the TAGB.

She also assists Dipper in teaching juniors at Calne and at a Tae Kwon-Do school in Swindon.