A YEAR nine pupil at Cartmel Priory C of E School won bronze in judo at the British School Championships.

Sophia Towart travelled to the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield where she showed off her judo skills and was awarded the medal.

Students between the ages of 13 and 16 were invited to demonstrate their skills in the Japanese martial arts and combat sport.

The teen was accompanied by her coach Danny Harper, who won British Judo Coach of the Year in November 2023 and occasionally runs Judo as PE sessions at Cartmel Priory.

Sophia only began practicing Judo when she was 11 years old after discovering it at an after-school club.

In October 2021 she decided to join DNA Craven Judo in Ingleton where she has been building up her strength and techniques over the past two and a half years.

Despite moving up to a new weight category on the day of the competition, and facing larger opponents than before, Sophia won three out of her four contests.

Being awarded Bronze at the British School Championships was a great achievement for Sophia, who enjoys competing and challenging herself.

Sophia's parents Dawn and Alan Towart said they are ‘very proud of her’, especially as she has ‘achieved so much in such a short time’.

The previous weekend Sophia also won Bronze in the Izegem open championships in Belgium, which she travelled to with eight other Judokas from her club. 

Sophia's next competition is the Northern Ireland championships in April which she is feeling ‘very excited’ for after winning Gold in her weight category last year.

Cartmel Priory C of E School were sure to wish Sophia many congratulations.