British Taekwondo hosted an Annual Awards ceremony on Saturday night, as our community came together to celebrate one another at The Lowry, Salford.

The event gave us the chance to recognise the individuals and clubs whose dedication, passion, and achievements have made an outstanding impact on our community this past year.

From long-established clubs shaping generations of athletes to inspirational young leaders and unsung heroes, this year’s recipients truly embody the values of British Taekwondo.

As well as our Community Awards, we also had awards for members of our Performance Departments, where those who have contributed towards the success of our Poomsae and Kyorugi departments were recognised for their achievements throughout the year.

Scroll down to see the winners from the weekend, with athletes and referees both claiming silverware throughout the evening.

Sport Performance Referee Award Winners

International Referee of the Year: Joanne Leach-Flanagan

A successful career woman with a larger than life bubbly personality, a busy Mum and Grandmother. Jo still finds time to give to Taekwondo filling every weekend, either domestically – helping to deliver courses, or chief refereeing events for UK coach hosts. Or Internationally in Britain, Belgium, Sweeden, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Latvia this year alone.

Class 1 Referee of the Year: Anna Brocklesby

Anna has made significant contributions to referee development across all areas. She has played a key role in shaping course materials, delivering content during training sessions, and providing guidance to newly qualified officials at competitions—both as a team leader and as a supportive colleague. Through her collaborative and encouraging approach, Anna instills confidence in officials, enabling them to perform their duties effectively while knowing they have her steadfast support.

Class 2 Referee of the Year: Anu Anna Antony

Anu is one of our standout team members. Having joined BT as a qualified centre referee, she successfully completed the course in January 2024 and has since become an invaluable part of the team. She demonstrates fairness and consistency in every aspect of her role—qualities that exemplify the standards expected of a referee.

Class 3 Referee of the Year: Ethan Grogan

Ethan is among our most dependable officials, consistently providing support to newly qualified colleagues as they learn to navigate event technology. He remains a calming presence when challenges arise, guiding others through difficulties with patience and maintaining a positive sense of humour throughout. His steady influence ensures that officials feel supported and confident in their roles.

Poomsae Performance Referee Award Winners

International Referee of the Year: Damian Duffy

Damian Duffy of Cheol Taekwondo Academy was a worthy winner of the International Referee of the Year Award for 2025. Damian’s commitment to Poomsae officiating continues to impress, having been part of refereeing teams at home and abroad throughout the past 12 months.

Class 1 Referee of the Year: Hyeong-Seon Turner

Hyeong-Seon Turner of Red Taekwondo has shown remarkable dedication to developing as a national referee, consistently officiating at nearly every Poomsae competition with professionalism and integrity.

Her strong sense of responsibility and proven ability to manage a ring efficiently highlight their leadership and organisational skills. Always eager to learn and improve, they embrace feedback and new challenges with enthusiasm, while a collaborative spirit and reliability make her an invaluable team player in any officiating crew.

Class 2 Referee of the Year: Karen Sivyer

Karen Sivyer of Tuji Taekwondo has consistently demonstrated unwavering support for Poomsae competitions, regularly taking on the vital role of ring captain with dedication, responsibility, and professionalism.

Her leadership is defined by a strong commitment to teamwork, ensuring smooth coordination and mutual respect among officials and athletes. Known for her fairness and reliability, she brings a calm and steady presence to every event, earning the trust and admiration of her peers.

Her consistent performance, collaborative spirit, and dependable nature make her an exemplary figure in the refereeing community and a key contributor to the success of each competition’.

Class 3 Referee of the Year: Olivia McGeoch

Olivia McGeoch of Gajok Taekwondo Academy a proven GB Poomsae athlete and committed referee, exemplifies the future of officiating by bridging the athlete and referee experience with insight and integrity.

Her ability to view Poomsae from both sides of the ring makes her an inspiring role model for younger practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of the sport. Through her dedication, reliability, and collaborative spirit, she consistently demonstrates the highest standards of refereeing excellence.

Poomsae Performance Athlete Award Winners

Most Improved Athlete of the Year: Erin Bannon

All the high performance coaches were unanimous in the decision to award Erin Bannon of NTC – Formby the Most Improved Athlete of the Year Award for 2025. Erin won silver at the Croatian G1 event in October and won gold at the National Championship in Nottingham in November to cap off a remarkable year of progress on the mats.

We look forward to seeing her progress through the Development Pathway in the years to come, with a level of performance which continues to impress.

Elite Para Athlete of the Year: Iona Craig

Iona Craig of Elite Martial Arts Academy won gold in the P23 category at the European Poomsae Championships back in April, in what was an incredible performance in her first Major Championships.

Iona continues to inspire the next generation of para female athletes with her dedication to the sport.

Elite Male Athlete of the Year: Ali Pourtaheri

Ali Pourtaheri of PremierKi won gold in the O66 division at the European Poomsae Championships in Estonia back in April, and also won another gold at the National Poomsae Championships this year, to add another two titles to his collection.

Ali continues to set the bar for Poomsae athletes with his commitment and dedication, with a number of outstanding performances throughout the year underlining his ability on the mats.

Elite Female Athlete of the Year: Adrianna Beard

Adrianna Beard of PremierKi won gold in the Individual U17 female and U17 pair with Louis Exton at the European Poomsae Championships this year, becoming the first ever double gold winner for a British Taekwondo athlete at the event.

Sport Performance Athlete Award Winner

Most Improved Athlete of the Year: Sam Kealey

Sam Kealey of TDO TKD won the title of Most Improved Athlete of the Year for 2025, after a year of growth and development on the mats. In a breakthrough 12 months, Sam has won several international medals and represented GB at Cadet European Championships, where he managed to reach the quarter final in Athens.

Cadet Athlete of the Year: Gabriella Pettigrew

Gabriella Pettigrew of Core Taekwondo Academy was awarded the Cadet Athlete of the Year award for 2025. Gabby has been consistent in both training and in competition performances, with strong showings at the Cadet European Championships in November, as well as being one of the five-strong squad that travelled to Fujairah, UAE to compete at the World Cadet Championships in May.

Junior Athlete of the Year: Aimee Kim

Aimee Kim of LMC Taekwondo was named Junior Athlete of the Year for 2025, having turned up to every session of the year and always puts in 100%. Aimee has been an example for others of her age and is a worthy winner of the prize.

Senior Athlete of the Year: Poppy Mackay

Poppy Mackay of Whiston Taekwondo was named Senior Athlete of the Year for 2025. Having time away from the sport a while ago, Poppy has found her feet again this year and has excelled in training and across the circuit.