Tom Reed is hoping his lifestyle change won't affect his chances as he bids for World Cup glory.

The 21-year-old Devizes Judo Club ace is now working full time in Reading as part of a placement on his Business degree from Bath University.

Instead of training three times a day, he is now fitting it in around working for British Gas' BG group.

"It is a lot harder and I don't have much spare time anymore," he said.

"I'm still getting up at 7am to go running and then it is straight from work to judo in the evening.

"It is going to be interesting over the next few months to see if it affects me, so I will see how it goes."

He is still travelling to Bath twice a week from his new base in Reading and trains with clubs around the town ahead of the Judo World Cup.

Reed has been called into the Great Britain four man team for the event in Birmingham on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday 23.

It is a qualifying event for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and, although confident, he is not expecting major success.

"I've got an outside chance," he said. "Firstly I am only 21 and in judo you usually peak later, around 26. And I have also just moved up weight categories from 73kg to 81kg.

"Obviously I will be going to try and win but realistically 2012 is the aim."

The World Cup is the first in a series of events which allow competitors to gain points for the Olympics, with the top nine qualifying.

Reed will be aiming to win as many as possible this time as he believes he won't compete at every competition.

"It is a home event, so Britain take four players," he said.

"I am number two or three and at the same standard as another guy in the squad.

"In the other events abroad they will take two and share them between us."

n Devizes Judo Club will mark their 50th anniversary on Saturday when members from the past 50 years meet for a celebration. The event at the Town Hall also coincides with a launch of a book charting the club's history since it started in the back garden of John Underwood in Victoria Road in Devizes.

Chairman Richard Hopkins said: "In those days people didn't wait for things to happen, they made them happen themselves. They got some mattresses and a book from the library and just went for it."

Hopkins has been tracking down founder members. He said: "There have probably been almost 10,000 people who have been involved with the club over the years."

European medallists Julian Davies, Andrew Giddings, Roberts Wixon and Reed will all attend. Hopkins believes their accomplishments helps the club stand out from the others.

He said: "What puts us apart from other clubs is we have achieved four European medals.

"Most clubs, even the really big ones don't achieve that."