A FORMER pupil of Tockington Manor School has been selected for the Great Britain Judo team in 2018.

Alan England, who is now a second year student at the University of Nottingham, has been training with the former Olympian James Austin.

Following the Welsh Open Championships, in October 2017, Alan achieved the British Number one ranking in the Junior (under 21) under 81kg weight category.

On December 9 Alan entered the British Junior Championships in Sheffield and fought all day in a very strong field to eventually come through and win the Gold medal, making him the new British Champion.

As a result of his determination he has now been selected for the English and GB Squads for 2018.

Alan now joins Old Tockingtonians Holly Hill, rower, and Will Christophi, cross country runner, in representing Great Britain.

Stephen Symonds Headmaster at Tockington Manor School is delighted with Alan’s achievement.

“We are immensely proud of the achievements of all our former pupils, but Alan, Holly and Will are perfect examples of the rewards of an early introduction to competitive sport, said Mr Symonds.

“Their sporting achievements combined with their academic successes at Nottingham, Cambridge and Oxford Universities are from the ethics introduced to them at Tockington Manor School”.