BRIDGWATER'S Palace nighclub recently hosted a thrilling kickboxing event that attracted another large crowd of fight fans.

Sixteen-year-old local Kirsty James added another win to her record with a unanimous points victory over an opponent from Dorchester. Audrius Budrys and Tony De Sena impressed in their first-ever visits to the ring with unanimous points victories over men from Chippenham and and Weston.

As the evening warmed up, so did the action from the more experienced Bridgwater fighters of the Budo Juku Kickboxing Club, Cranleigh Gardens.

Twenty-year-old Joseph Bale stepped in at the last minute against strong, high kicking Luke Green, of Weston Warriors. After at first having seemes troubled by the strong attacks of Green, Bale found his range with both hands and took the fight to his opponent.

In a thrilling three-rounder, Bale's karate experience and technique impressed the judges enough to earn another points victory.

Eighteen-year-old local karate black belt Ashley Gouge had a rematch with Anna Otterwell, from Chippenham's Spartans club. Otterwell came out strongly, aiming to avenge her defeat by Gouge at their last encounter.

But if she thought Gouge would fold under pressure, she was mistaken, and the three rounds saw both display technique and courage that unanimously won the fight of the night award. This time, the Chippenham fighter won the majority decision.

Justo Estrada, from Bristol, representing Bridgwater, displayed his flair and speed in the first round against Sam Simpson, then both fighters sustained cuts that forced the referee to abandon the fight before the start of the second.

The Palace has become the regular host to this twice-yearly event promoted by karate and kickboxing coach Arthur Meek and there are also mixed martial-arts fights on the bill.

UNABLE to get a match at Bridgwater Fight Night mixed martial artist Steve Harris (24) travelled to the Rhondda Valley for Tylorstown's first cage-fighting event.

It was fought under semi-professional rules, with Harris and his opponent spending some time circling the cage arena, stalking each other with low kicks and quick punches.

Finally, the two went to the floor, where Harris was underneath his opponent momentarily, defending a couple of attempts at arm-bar submission. Eventually, he turned his opponent over, then quickly took his back and finished with a rear naked choke, which forced his opponent to tap out after three minutes of the first round.

Harris , who trains at the Budo Juku club in Bridgwater, has now fought several times under various mixed martial-arts rules and is developing as an impressive, all-round fighter.

For more information on the next event or on karate or kickboxing, contact Arthur Meek on (01278) 421221.