AT six years old, Gabriella Pettigrew was the youngest in the Cumbria Taekwondo team which travelled to an international competition in Motherwell, Scotland.

But her age did not hold her back as despite this being her first competition at this level, she won her first fight in only nine seconds and went on to reach the final of the under 20kg female category.

And she really turned it on in that final which she won by a landslide points score of 47-1 to be crowned national Scottish champion.

Highly dedicated to the martial art of Taekwondo, Gabriella has been a member at the club for two years now in addition to being a member of the Lancaster Gymnastics squad, where she trains three times a week, and is also a member of Kendal Dance Academy.

And her superb effort in Scotland completed a great day for the nine strong team who returned with a medal haul of two golds, two silvers and five bronzes.

Cumbria Taekwondo meets at Kendal’s Queen Katherine School under master Beverley Fallows on Thursday evenings, with classes for ages 5 to 8 from 5.30pm to 6.20pm, 8 to 11s from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and 11 plus from 7.30pm.

The club also meets at the Red Rose Social and Recreational Centre on Victoria Road in Ulverston, with these classes taking place on Mondays from 7pm to 8.45pm under grand master Kevin Thompson.

Both are contactable through Facebook.