A MARTIAL arts club owner has described a 24-hour charity sparring session as “one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do”.

The Unit Martial Arts Club held the session last weekend in memory of keen sportsman David Smithies, who was killed in a car accident in 2006 on the road between Tywyn and Dolgellau.

Club owner Dave Hughes said: “The charity event went really well. We had fighters turn up from right across England and Wales.

“It was very tough though, one of the hardest things I’ve had to do physically.”

So far the club has raised over £700 for the Smithies foundation.