KEIGHLEY'S international taekwondo star Leah Moorby celebrated her 17th birthday by winning double gold in the British National Championships at the Copper Box Arena in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The Oakbank student retained her junior title for the fourth consecutive year and added a senior crown at the first attempt.

Her victories were ideal preparation for November's World Championships in Vancouver.

This was the first year the nationals have taken place in the capital instead of Manchester and the event proved a great success featuring over 900 competitors.

Leah's first fight in the junior minus 63kg category saw her up against Gnanapandithan from London's Gurumu Taekwondo club.

The British number one soon took command with a solid body shot and a head shot to take the first round 4-1. Leah turned up the pressure with further headshots, including a superb reverse turning four-pointer, to end the second round 15-1 and claim victory by way of the 12-point gap rule.

The Keighley fighter was similarly dominant in the semi-final against McCormack (Vision Taekwondo) as she triumphed 17-4.

Leah's junior final against Pires (Peckham-based Fusion Taekwondo), who had also had an impressive 14-1 semi-final win, was a closer affair.

She led 4-3 after the first round and never relinquished her advantage to triumph 12-6 to clinch her fourth British junior title.

As the number one senior seed in the minus 62kg category, Leah gained a quarter-final bye but a withdrawal by her semi-final opponent saw her face old rival and number two seed Ruth May from Llantwit Major Taekwondo in the final.

The Welsh international had a comfortable semi-final win but World and European medallist Leah was intent on adding to her gold collection.

She took the initiative immediately with solid body and head shots to take the opening round 6-1. The Ultimate Taekwondo fighter was now in full flow and bombarded her opponent with further blows that she could not deal with. The contest finished after Leah led 23-4 following the second round.

On her double triumph, dad Gary said: "It's been quite a difficult year for Leah. Combining education and elite sport is not easy but she has coped extremely well, achieving excellent GCSE results and being selected to represent her country for a fifth time in the Junior World Championships.

"Now she has managed to win a British title on two levels. Hopefully Leah can take her good form into November. It will be her second World Championships so she knows what standard to expect and her previous experience should help her."