SILSDEN’S Jamie Simpson-Kidd has picked up a bronze medal at the USA Open.

The Great Britain national cadet team member stepped up in class and won three successive matches before losing to the eventual winner in the semi-finals of the cadet featherweight category (under-45kg).

He enjoyed victories over Jonathan Gonzalez (11-6), and Miguel Rivero (11-5) before winning his quarter-final with a golden-point 9-8 triumph over Adrian Rivas.

Jamie put up a brave fight in the semi-final before bowing out to American Emilio Alfonso by a 7-4 margin.

The Ilkley Grammar student’s display at the Orange County Convention Center on Universal Boulevard in Orlando was even more impressive considering that a capacity 2,000 athletes from 73 countries were competing, including entrants from Canada, Puerto Rico, Korea, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, China, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico and the United States.

The event also carried G2 status, meaning that all medallists received double world ranking points.

A total of 14 athletes were competing from Great Britain, seven of which were full-timers and part of the World Class Performance Programme, including 2012 Olympians Martin Stamper and Lutalo Muhammed.

Jamie’s section had 26 competitors, including 20 from the USA, two from Canada and one each from French Polynesia, Ecuador and Trinidad and Tobago.

Ilkley Grammar’s headteacher Helen Williams said: “We are extremely proud of Jamie’s success.

“We even heard he was doing his schoolwork while watching the competition! It’s a great credit to Jamie that he can balance his success in taekwondo alongside concentrating on his studies.”