KEIGHLEY’S Leah Moorby celebrated her 15th birthday last weekend by becoming the junior -59kg British National champion at the Manchester Velodrome.

This year’s tournament was the biggest on record, with over 700 competitors from across the UK taking part, including full-time athletes from the Great Britain Academy senior team.

The win was a remarkable achievement for the European and World Taekwondo medallist as this was her first attempt at the national championships in the junior age category (14 to 17), having won the cadet British title last year.

She stepped up to the mark with outstanding effect, putting in three fantastic performances to take her title and confirm her new status as the junior number one in the UK.

The Holy Family student (pictured with her medal) stopped two of her opponents due to the 12-point gap rule and conceded only 11 points while scoring an impressive 45, including several spectacular headshots.

First up was Quest Taekwondo fighter and GB Development squad member Megan Featherstone.

The two had met earlier this year in a tough contest that saw Moorby win 19-13.

The first two rounds were close before the Keighley girl stepped up a gear to win the fight 10- 2.

Moorby’s semi-final was against Manchester Ace’s Abbie Baker. She quickly took the ascendency with a head shot and four body shots to take a 7-1 lead. The second round saw no let up as she extended her lead to 11-3 before the third round was stopped by way of a 12-point gap, Moorby’s spectacular double head shot finishing the fight 18-4.

In the final against Lauren Guest, of Lion Taekwondo, Moorby stamped her authority quickly with further head shots to take a 9-2 lead at the end of the first round. The second round saw no respite as she landed a cracking reverse turning head shot that scores four pointson her way to an early 17-5 triumph.

Kathy Hook, Moorby’s coach at Ultimate Taekwondo, said: “Leah was fantastic in her first Junior British Championships. Her title is a great follow up to her bronze-winning performances in the World Championships earlier this year.

Moorby, who is undefeated domestically for two years, is now hoping to make the British squad for the Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships in Edinburgh this November.