SOUTH DEVON schools and colleges are going to be well represented at the looming British Schools' Championships in Sheffield.

The event is the biggest on the school judo calendar and was fully subscribed more than three months ago.

Around 300 children from school years 7-13 will be taking part. Eighteen youngsters from South Devon are competing, representing schools and colleges from Kingsbridge, Totnes, Torbay, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth.

The competition is not open to any judo players who are members of the England Squad programme or who have won a medal at the British Championships in the last three years.

Talent spotters will be at the championships and medallists may be invited to attend the national squad training sessions.

For competitors it is the chance to win a national title, or gain experience in the attempt.

Simon Ward, who coaches judo in schools, said the importance of the championships could not be underestimated.

"This is a big opportunity for these judoka to gain confidence at a national level, without having to fight the normal top four or six national squad fighters who they would normally struggle to beat at a competition," he said.

"This event really allows for fighters just below that level the chance to have their moment. If they can produce the goods on the day, they will get their chance to move up the ladder."

The full list of South Devon competitors: Joshua Watson (Westlands School); Hannah Barley (Coombeshead College); Robert Edge (Torquay Boys' Grammar School); Joshua Lewis Clarke (Torquay Boys' Grammar School); Nathan Clinch (Teign School); Samara Taylor (Torquay Girls' Grammar School); Hayley Foster (Kingsbridge Community College); Corrine Partridge (Paignton Community & Sports College); Racheal Wheatley (Churston Ferrers Grammar School); James Pidwell (Newton Abbot College); Issac Westlake (Kingsbridge College); Ben Clayton (Kingsbridge College); Kieran Miles (Teign School); George Burton (Coombeshead College); Conor Cleave (King Edward IV College); Samuel Foulser (Trnity School); Ethan Anning (Paignton Community & Sports College); Samuel Westlake (Kingsbridge College).