This week Bill Carne chats to award-winning judo competitor Ashleigh Barnikel, who is already doing superbly and could become a real star of the sport if she can maintain her meteoric start...

ASHLEIGH Barnikel was the proud recipient of the 'Girls Under 16 Junior Achievement of the Year' award at the Sport Pembrokeshire ninth annual awards evening and it was fitting reward for her progress in 2015 in the competitive world of judo.

It was all the more remarkable because whilst Ashleigh has been involved at the Pembroke Tokushima Judo Club for almost ten years it was only at the start of this year that she was inspired to try competitive judo after watching Natalie compete in the Commonwealth games.

So her parents, Paul and Penny contacted Damon McGarvie at Neyland Judo Club and soon afterwards Ashleigh was making the trek from Pembroke across to Neyland three times a week.

"Damon and all the other club members have made me really welcome," said Ashleigh, "and I now have the best of two worlds because I still learn the basics of all the moves with mum and dad and Damon helps me to turn that knowledge into a practical level against opponents in competitions."

It was only natural that Ashleigh started out when she was just a slip of a girl of four because Penny and Paul were heavily involved in Judo in its pure form as a martial art, rather than competing to gain points to rise through the rankings so both are experts in their own right.

Ashleigh soon had her own gi in the smallest size (the judo uniform, so to speak) and hasn't taken a backward step ever since because she loves learning new techniques and is ever-ready to listen to good advice.

Paul is a Black Belt Third Dan and Penny is a Black Belt Second Dan and have been coaching for a long time in the technical aspects of Judo, with the emphasis on pure technique.

Ashleigh also has a younger sister in Ffion, who hasn't taken on judo yet but is a useful swimmer at Tenby Dolphins Swimming Club, where she enjoys the whole range of strokes.

Paul started out in Pennar, switched to Manorbier and then came back to Foundry House in Pembroke, where he now has upwards of 20 students taking part in his club.

When Ashleigh joined Neyland Judo Club at the start of the year she was a green belt but improved so quickly under the watchful eye of Damon McGarvie that in February she was entered for the Welsh Closed competition and came away with a deserved gold medal in the 44kgs category as her reward.

"I was a bit nervous before the start in front of a big crowd at the National Sports Centre at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff," admitted Ashleigh, "as I competed on a round-robin basis against all the others in my category - and I beat them all, mainly using throwing techniques because we weren't allowed to use submission holds.

"Of course it was much more physical than I had been used to before but luckily Damon has been a great help and gave me the self-confidence and belief in myself to do well!"

Then in March, Ashleigh competed at the Welsh Open where there were more experienced contestants from several countries but again she competed so well that she won a gold medal in the 44kgs class and added an excellent silver medal in the 48kgs class as she extended her performance level yet again, whilst picking up vital experience.

From these excellent performances, Ashleigh was invited to represent Wales in the Kent International; another step up because Ashleigh competed against others from France, Ireland, England and Scotland.

"I won my pool to make it to the last four but then lost to the eventual winner and so had to settle for a bronze, but my parents and Damon said I should be very pleased by such a result.

"Then it was on to Gemau Cymru (Welsh Games) and sadly I was the only one in my class - but at least it qualified me for Sainsbury's School Games in September, where I was definitely the youngest (and the smallest!) taking part.

"I lost twice in the individual competition and it was nice to be part of the Welsh team which won a bronze medal, especially since I beat the girls I had earlier lost to, which showed I was still learning."

Outside of her judo, Ashleigh has played hockey for Ysgol y Preseli as a full back, and also took part in gymnastics under the guidance of Paul Hughes.

"The gymnastics really helped me with flexibility and general fitness but since I go to my Pembroke Club once a week and three times to Neyland (plus twice a month to Cardiff for specialist training) it was impossible to fit it in and so it had to take a back seat!"

One of the undoubted highlights of her short judo career so far was her selection as part of the 20 juniors selected to compete in Belgium in the Flanders Cup, a big step for Ashleigh because she had to travel with the rest of the team and the coaches - and at 14 years of age that was another experience for her in terms of travel and staying in a hotel.

"I had to fight against the Belgian No 1 and 2, plus the French No 1, and although I lost I felt it was another enormous step in my development - and I am now looking forward to December because I'll be off to Kent for a training camp where Olympic athletes and coaches will also be training so we can watch them and learn lots.

Ask Ashleigh for her ambitions and she would be quick to answer:

"My Welsh coach, Jo Melon, who was a Commonwealth medalist herself, has set out a seven-year plan for me which would end with my competing in the 2022 Commonwealth Games - and even at World or Olympic Games after that.

"I know it means loads of work but I have full family support and am up for the challenge so I just aim to keep up my work rate, listen to the coaches and just do my very best."

And there is no doubting Ashleigh Barnikel's commitment to judo and we wish this modest and unassuming young lady every success in her future because she really does deserve to do well if she can maintain such a promising start to her career!