Martial Arts
ROB Jones became European champion for the first time - and won his ninth trophy of the season in the process.
The 29-year-old kickboxer beat the best fighters from Germany, France, Greece and Malta to win the WUMA event.
It caps a fantastic season for the Macc ace, who is based at G's gym on Pickford Street, after he was forced to miss the whole of last year through injury.
Jones, who only lost twice all season, was crowned Euro number one at Worcester last month.
"It's definitely one of the biggest titles I've won," said Jones, who has bounced back in style from a broken arm which prevented him from competing for 12 months.
A gruelling, four hours-a-day training schedule helped Jones, a heating engineer by day, return to the form that saw him to sweep all before him in 2003.
He added: "I just really wanted to prove to myself that I could do it again after having a year out. It's not been easy. Every day after work I went to the gym and put in the hours. Sometimes I really didn't want to go, but everyone at the gym was great and really supportive. But to have been so successful makes it all worthwhile."
Jones, who now lives in Sale, has decided to put off plans of retirement for another year.
This season, the martial arts master also won the: EMA Lancashire Series, WUMA Welsh Open, WUMA Welsh National Championship, WKA Premier League, EMA British Series, WKA Fighters Open, WUMA North West Championship, and came third in the WKA Nationals.
