Northern Education Trust Manor Community Academy student, Peter Gale, started kickboxing when he joined the local Phoenix Kickboxing school in Hartlepool at 6 years old and took to it instantly.

Since starting his classes, Peter has participated in numerous competitions all over the country and won the following titles in his class weight: The South Tyneside Open Champion, Tyne and Wear Open Champion and The Northern Open Champion, all in 2018; the World Kickboxing Organisation English Open Champion in 2020 and the International Boxing Kickboxing Organisation English Open Champion this year. Peter has even had multiple opportunities to compete internationally including The Unified World Championship in Italy 2018 where he won a bronze medal fighting for England and The Legacy Open in 2019 where he was runner up.

In January 2020, Peter received his first dan black belt, which ranks him as a trained student, a major achievement for a 12-year-old. He continues to be an esteemed member of the Phoenix school’s junior classes every Tuesday and Wednesday evening where his father, Mr Peter Gale, says the younger students look up to his son for training and advice.

When asked what it meant to him being a World, European and English champion at Kickboxing Peter replied, “It means the world to me. All of the hard work I’ve put into the last seven years of training with my instructors and competing has helped me learn what I need to do to be a champion. I would like to go professional one day and to help keep teaching the juniors at Phoenix Kickboxing.”

Melissa Mossom, PE Teacher at Manor Community Academy, said: “It is amazing to see the accolades Peter continues to earn as he works his way up the ranks in his extra-curricular kickboxing. The academy is so proud of him and we continue to look forward to witnessing his achievements in PE as he proceeds through his time at the academy.”

Peter has also recently been shortlisted by Hartlepool and District Sports Council for their 2021 Annual Awards Volunteer of the Year Award for the voluntary work he does with his kickboxing club.