DRAKE Judo Club, which holds sessions at Tavistock College, are celebrating today after picking up their first international medal,

Alanna Hopkins, aged 10, travelled to the Medway Centre in Gillingham to compete alongside 700 other competitors from the UK and countries all over the world including team-mates Jack Murphy, 13, and Jake Brown 10

Alanna, from Tavistock, won her semi-final contest with her favourite harai goshi (sweeping hip throw) and progressed through to the final where she again used harai goshi to win gold in less than two minutes.

She and her club mates were coached on the day by her mum, Roz Hopkins, a coach at Drake and herself a former GB Junior international.

Alanna said: ‘I’m really happy with the way I fought and really proud of Jack and Jake who fought really hard too.’

Ros who is a first dan black belt, said: ‘This is by far the toughest competition she has been involved in and attracts the best fighters in the country so for her to come away with gold is a fabulous result, Both Jack and Jake also competed tremendously well and should be incredibly proud of how their showing.’

Alanna, along with five other clubmates, will compete at the National Championships in Cardiff in September, which for a club only formed 18 months ago is a massive achievement.