A YOUNG martial artist from Northlew has come home with a bronze medal awarded to her at the recent Taekwon- do Association (GB) Southern Championships in Paignton.

Sophie Shaw, aged 14, won third place in the sparring in the junior girls middleweight red belt.

Sophie is a member of the Crediton TAGB Club under the instruction of fourth Dan black belt Ian Bazely; she also trains regularly at the Okehampton TAGB Club, with instructor fifth degree black belt Guy Southard.

Having previously won a bronze medal at the South West Championships and a silver at the Welsh Nationals earlier this year, Sophie now has her sights set on the British National Championships in Derby in November, while working towards her black belt grading next year.