KEIGHLEY'S Leah Moorby has been named as the 2015 GB Taekwondo Junior Female Athlete of the Year.

The accolade comes following another superb 12 months for the 16-year-old Oakbank student.

In what was her second year in the junior ranks, she once again excelled, remaining unbeaten domestically in winning the Doncaster, Liverpool and Nottingham Championships.

In March she won silver at the Dutch Open Championships in Eindhoven, while in September the Ultimate Taekwondo star – who has also won junior of the year at her Doncaster-based club – claimed her third consecutive British title at the Manchester Velodrome.

October saw Leah travel to Latvia, where she won bronze representing Great Britain in the Junior European Championships. The following month, she was selected as the youngest member of the GB Under-21 team in Bucharest.

Leah's dad Gary - the former Cougars head coach - said: "It's been another successful year. Leah makes lots of sacrifices in terms of fitting in the necessary training and preparation, working with her strength coach Paul Royston, travelling to Doncaster in midweek for training and then Manchester at weekends for GB training.

"On top of this Leah is also busy preparing for her GSCE exams next year, so spare time is quite rare."

He thanked those who have enabled her to achieve her success, saying: "We are very grateful to everyone who has given their support this year, in particular Mr Maxwell and Oakbank School, who ensure Leah's education does not suffer while she works around her busy schedule.

"Paul Royston has her in great condition and her club coach Kathy Hook is one of the top coaches in the UK.

"We are also very grateful to Richard Chadwick, of Airedale Chemicals, for their continued support which has helped Leah reach the stage she is at in her career."

GB Taekwondo's Talent Pathway manager Steve Green said: “Leah has continued to impress throughout the year and has asserted her position as a junior for 2015.”

Leah will be back training in early January when her main target for the year will be to gain selection for the Junior World Championships in Vancouver, Canada, in November.