DEVIZES Judo Club celebrated its most successful year to date with a presentation ceremony for its top youngsters at the town hall.

Devizes Mayor Katherine Brown made presentations to the 15 Devizes players who represented the region at the 2002 National Junior Judo Championships.

Abigail Dempsey, Danielle Freeman, Abigail Giles, Laura McCullar, Kevin and Stephen Ottaway, Jason Parsons, Max and Sam Penzato, Stuart Phillips, Lee and Paul Pitman, Tom Reed, Tim Roberts and Natalie South were all selected after winning the West of England event.

Reed clinched a gold medal at the national championships, while McCullar took silver in her category.

Max and Sam Penzato, Roberts and Parsons completed the medal haul after each picking up bronze.

Devizes resident Danielle Maya, who competes for the Pinewood Club in Berkshire, also won gold in her weight category.

Team coach Razz Hopkins was delighted with the achievements of the club's young players.

He said: "2002 has been our most successful year ever, not only in terms of those who competed, but also those who won medals and became members of the National Cadet Judo Squad.

"The club is anxious to provide judo and aikido to people of all ages and abilities but it is at this level that we can assess our progress year on year.

"To put this in context, I believe that this year Devizes Budo Club won more medals than the whole Scottish judo team."

Devizes Judo Club holds training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday nights at its headquarters behind the Queens Head public house on Dunkirk Hill.