THERE would be no happier man in the world than Rick Simpson were Silsden's Jamie Kidd and Cullingworth's Ellie Bowden to make it to the Olympic Games.

Speaking at the Provident Bradford Sports Awards at Valley Parade after his Horizon Taekwondo Academy was named Young Club or Team of the Year, he said: "Jamie and Ellie have both been doing it since they were four years old and they are now 15 and 17 respectively.

"If they got to the Olympics it would make me so proud."

After pipping City of Bradford Esprit Diving Club and Team Xtreme Cheer and Dance to the award, Horizon Taekwondo Academy club coach Simpson said: "It is down to the hard work and dedication of our pupils.

"It is about preparation and you turn up on the day and smash it."

Horizon Taekwondo, who won the senior achievers’ amateur club or team section in 2017 and the Club or Team Non-Professional category in 2016, have been consistently breaking records for years.

Last year, Horizon, who have training bases in Keighley and Silsden, finished third in the British National Championships and were ranked third out of 400 clubs nationally.

They had 11 British champions in their ranks and achieved 360 belt-grade passes.

Kidd and Bowden were also up for individual awards, with Kidd being highly commended in the Young Male Sportsperson of the Year and Bowden likewise in the Young Female Sportsperson of the Year categories, with the honours going to trampolinist Harrison Green and diver Holly Waxman.

Ilkley Grammar School pupil Kidd said: "I had a really good year at taekwondo and train twice a day for three hours a day but give myself Fridays off."

One had to feel for Bowden, however, as Kidd tucked into his three-course meal sitting next to her, while Bowden could not eat at all as she was flying out the following morning to the Dutch Open.

The tall teenager won a fifth national title last year and she is undefeated domestically for over four years.

She also won four medals at world-ranking events in 2017.