Megan changes sports but still excels!

Dartmouth Academy’s Megan Felton has taken to Tae Kwon Do like a duck to water – already winning silver in the national championships!

Seventeen-year-old Megan only started the sport in 2012, following ten years studying Judo to the highest level at her age group, winning national championships on a regular basis.

Now working towards her blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do, Sixth Former Megan went to the National Championships in Guildford in March and finished with a Silver medal in Sparring in her age group. Sparring is a tough and unforgiving form of the sport and Megan found out just how tough at the end of the final.

“I was knocked out in the final, which was something that has never happened before!” she said. “It was still brilliant to be in the final and bring home a silver medal. I really enjoyed the experience and it won’t put me off!

“The techniques you use in Tae Kwon Do are obviously different from Judo, but the discipline you need is the same and I am really loving it so far.”

Megan is working towards her sports and exercise science A Level and hopes to go on to study American Studies and Sports Science at University.

Lead for Sixth Form Luke Payne said: “Megan has been an enthusiastic member of the year and has really committed to her sports studies here at Dartmouth Academy. Her success in martial arts shows her strength, skill and commitment.”

Dartmouth Academy Principal Nick Hindmarsh said: “Megan is a hard working and dedicated person who has shown she can excel in two different disciplines. Well done Megan!”

Dartmouth Academy Student Megan Takes National Judo Silver – and Inspires Others

Sports teachers Steff Morby, Luke Clements and Lead practitioner Luke Payne with Megan Felton as she celebrates her national win.

Dartmouth Academy Student Megan Felton is helping to inspire other students in sport after her amazing judo achievements.

Kingswear teenager Megan, 15, has been taking part in Judo since she was five, and has been a silver and gold medal winner at the sport’s national championships. On March 11, at the Parish Wharf Leisure Centre in Portishead she took Silver in the Intermediate Under 60kg division at the Tora Judo Kai Invitational Competition, a national competition for the sport.

She has also recently achieved the highest qualification in the sport for her age. Her great achievements are all the more remarkable as she has had a number of injury set backs over the last two years, interrupting her training schedule – yet she is still one of the best in the sport in the country.

But Megan is not interested in Olympic dreams – she wants to become a teacher and is already coaching Judo in Paignton. This passion is leading her to take up a teaching assistant course and will be helping the Dartmouth Academy sports team to inspire the younger students to try out new and exciting sports as part of an expanding and positive sports leaders programme at the Academy.

On the last day of the Academy term on Friday March 30, she gave a demonstration of her skills with her sensei Steve Walter from Paignton in front of Years 7 to 10 – who were blown away by her martial arts skills.

“I’ve always loved Judo,” she said. “Its strange really as I am not a very aggressive person and enjoy the training and coaching aspect of the sport. I’m already helping with training at my original club in Paignton and hope to do more.  I hope that I can continue to successfully train and reach my First Dan grade soon.”

Lead Practitioner for Physical Education at Dartmouth Academy, Luke Payne said: “It is wonderful to see such a dedicated student as Megan do so well in her chosen sport. She is and will continue to be a huge inspiration for others at the Academy and we are delighted she has showcased her talents for all to see.”