A KENDAL judo starlet is having the season of his life.

Isaac Hill, 18, cannot stop winning medals.

The former Appleby Grammar School pupil won gold at his first senior event at the Great North Judo Tournament held in the Gateshead International Stadium, beating more than 200 competitors at the end of October.

Then, in the same week, Isaac flew out to Lomel in Belgium to represent Great Britain at the Flanders Judocup where he won again.

He beat two experienced Finnish fighters en route to the final and then claimed victory against Slovenia's Vlad Lim to bring home the gold.

With just enough time to catch his breath, Isaac travelled to Cardiff to compete in the Welsh Open International Championships British ranking event on November 2.

Gold eluded him but he produced a spectacular major outer reaping throw in the bronze medal fight to get on the podium again.

Isaac's recent success is testament to the amount of work he puts into his athletic career and it has earned him the chance to represent Great Britain at a senior event in Austria next year - something his coach, Michael Liptrot, described as 'a feather in his cap'.

Originally from Penrith, Isaac spends most of the week living at Kendal Judo Club's Dojo just off Parkside Road which is one of only four centres in the country to offer the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence.

He undergoes a gruelling training regime under the watchful eye of chief coach Michael Liptrot and Olympic judo player Sophie Cox.

Training starts at 10am and includes a judo session, conditioning, weights, circuits and, finally, sparring.

But Isaac, who hopes to one day compete at an Olympic level, does not mind the work load.

"I have always enjoyed training hard," he said.

"I like physical activity.

"I'd rather be doing judo than just sitting about - judo gives me a purpose."

Isaac's achievements are made more remarkable considering he only took up the sport when he was 13.

He said: "I was always sporty as a kid; playing rugby, boxing or doing distance running, but I couldn't decide what to do.

"One day I came to the opening of the Dojo, where my Dad was a coach, and Mike said that if I shook his hand I'd be a judo boy for life.

"I wasn't sure so I didn't but I came back a few years later, shook his hand and I've been hooked ever since."

The talented teenager has a strict diet to adhere to in order to fuel his success, Mike Liptrot explains.

"He eats around 2,000 calories a day. People think losing weight is good but we are building bodies here so they don't break.

"With training so often every day you have to keep fuel in the tank."

The future looks bright for Isaac, who is being tipped to peak in 2020.

His coach said: "He is part of the next generation here. He's a very switched on lad with a good work ethic - we never have to push him. He's got friends who go out drinking but he knows how to keep a balance and that's special for an 18 year old. His best years in judo are ahead of him."