Carluke judo ace wins British title

For, less than a year after taking up competitive judo, the 15-year-old won the British under-16 championship in Sheffield on October 14, just two weeks after clinching the Scottish under-16 title in Motherwell.

Michelle, of Middlehope Farm, who is profoundly deaf, said: “It is amazing that I’ve managed to do this within a year.

“I owe a lot to Stevie Blair, my coach at Dynamic Judo Club in Newmains.

“Without him, there’s no way I would have got this far.

For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.