A small team of five from Papamoa Taekwondo Club is the winner of four medals at the

Taekwondo New Zealand Open Championships held at the weekend in Auckland.

Damion Tehuia (Gold), Joe Hughes (Gold), Sharleena Taylor, Joshua Buckton (Silver), Eden Witherow (Silver).

Overseas teams, mainly from Australia and Samoa, came to compete against New Zealand's best sparring and Poomsae competitors.

Black belt divisions were held on Saturday and all coloured belts competed on Sunday.

The medal winners from the Papamoa club were Damion Tehuia, Joe Hughes, Joshua Buckton and Eden Witherow.

Club coach Karl Warren says the event was fun for the team as they met new and interesting people, one of which was 72 year old Master Julius who is still competing in Poomsae along with 69 year old Master Russell Woods from Australia.