Park End kick boxing kids are world class

And the former world amateur number two has not lost any of his appetite, guiding four youngsters to a glut of medals at the ISKA World Championships in Eastern Europe last month.

Twelve-year-old Georgia Rust, pictured, and 10-year-old Chantelle Scott each won gold and bronze against opponents from 60 different countries in Olomouc, Czech Republic.

Chantelle's younger brother and sister, Damion, seven, and Dion, eight, were also among the medals, adding four more podium finishes to the Scorpio tally.

Their mentor Jowers was delighted with their efforts, saying: "I'm over the moon with them and it's a terrific reward for all the hard work they put in.

"They really stepped it up in training before they went over there and will only grow from the confidence they have got from it.

"They are all very talented, level-headed kids with their own qualities and they push each other on."

Following impressive displays at the championships, the quartet of fighters have all been invited to the upcoming US Open in New York.

Jowers hopes they will all get the chance to compete in America but relies heavily on fundraising events to finance such trips.

"I have to give a lot of gratitude to the parents as it's a continuing battle to try and raise money," he explained.

"The club has been so expensive to maintain - amateur boxing gets a lot of lottery grants but we find getting sponsorship a struggle."

All the submission fees from Scorpio's 200 or so weekly members are put back into the club by the passionate 34-year-old, who has nurtured some of the region's best kickboxers down the years, pictured above Hannah and Kelly Sivills.

And in his job as an educational social worker, Jowers has used the discipline of kickboxing to revitalise the lives of many disillusioned youngsters in the region.

"It has been so, so positive," he enthused.

"There is no end to the life skills that can be taught through kickboxing."

It is a far cry from his days as a troublesome teen before founding the Scorpio Kickboxing Club in 1989, with help from his father-in-law Alan McLachlan.

Jowers used McLachlan's money to get the club up and running and in return named it after his father-in-law's tattoo shop.

Gary said: "It was meant to be more a family thing than anything else - we have gone from there and grew from strength to strength."

The club is eyeing more success over the next couple of months, with Micky Dunford gunning for a super-featherweight title in October and female quartet Louise Wilson, Shannon Flynn and Kelly and Hannah Sivills fighting for medals at the WKA World Championships in Florida.

Asked whether he'll keep going for another 18 years, Gary joked: "I hope so - as long as my hands and feet keep working!"