Ashley Fleming secured a third medal for Great Britain on the final day of the 2008 Junior World Championships, when she won silver in the +78kg weight category.

The 17 year old who trains at Premier Judo Club in Glasgow lost only to Megumi Tachimoto of Japan in the final by a waza-ari score, which she conceded early in the fight. Despite her best efforts, in a match that went to the full four minutes, Fleming could not break down the Japanese player and had to settle for silver.

Earlier in the day the Brit stormed through the preliminary rounds beating Sara Alvarez of Spain, Aurore Quintin of France and Svitlana Iaromka of the Ukraine to take her place in the final.

Fleming who in September won bronze at the Junior European Championships was recently named Junior Female Player of the Year at the recent 2008 Volunteer & Player Awards Night, which took place at the NIA, Birmingham.

The three medals won by Britain is the largest medal haul at a Junior World Championships since 1994, when four medals were won by Georgina Singleton (gold -52kg), Cheryle Peel (gold -56kg), Graeme Randall (bronze -78kg), and Carol Kelly (bronze -61kg). At the last Junior World Championships in 2006 Britain won just one medal, a silver from Sally Conway in the -78kg weight category.

Commenting Margaret Hicks, Interim Performance Director said, “The results and performances achieved in the Junior World Championships clearly demonstrates a fundamental shift in the way players are now being developed prepared for milestone events at junior level (-20 years).

“The Development coaches have done an excellent job and with Patrick Roux the new GB Head Coach taking up his position at the start of November, the future looks promising for London 2012 and beyond”.

Media Contact:

Emma Griffin

British Judo

(t) 01509 631692

(e) emmagriffin@britishjudo.org.uk