A teenager from St Albans has been crowed British Judo Champion.
Amy Platten, 15, took the 18 years title in Sheffield on Sunday.
It crowned a great 2015 for Platten, who trains at the Welwyn Garden City and Redbridge Judo Clubs.
She started the year by winning bronze in the Spanish European Cup in March and was unstoppable in the Sainsbury’s Games in Manchester in September.
She went into these championships as the number one seed, after consistently winning ranking competitions across the UK.
She powered through the early rounds with her trademark ippon judo, using Uchi Mata, Ashi Guruma and Ippon Seionage throws.
However, the final against Rachel Towle from Clyde was a much tougher proposition.
Towle tried hard to frustrate Patten’s attacking style but the St Albans girl was declared the winner of the four minute fight after her opponent was given two passivity penalties.
After winning gold, an elated Patten said: “I really wanted to win by ippon but she made it very difficult.
“However, all the training and hard work paid off and it feels fantastic to be number one in Britain.”
As well as her Judo training, Patten has benefited from being on the Herts Talented Athletes Programme (HTAP), which helps her maximise her potential through Strength & Conditioning coaching.
Her final competition of the year is this weekend in the U21 category and she hopes she can continue her success into 2016.
She said: “I am hoping to do even better next year, if I can find enough sponsorship money to travel to more European Cups and training camps.
“I hope to get in the top 10 ranked in the world and fight in the European Championships in Finland.”
Anyone wanting to sponsor her should visit her funding page at http://sportinherts.podiumpartners.org/?dm_i=7LD,3URV8,LOLFSD,DWPSS,1 which will be live from December 14.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here