A Worcester Park teenager has won ninth place in a European short track speed skating competition.

Aydin Djemal, 13, competed in three different races at the Future Champions Trophy held in Budapest, Hungary, and came ninth in the under 13s competition, having competed in 1000m, 777m and 500m races.

His father, Eddie Djemal, said: “It's an amazing achievement and he set a new personal best in the 1000m, beating his old time by four seconds.”

Aydin, a member of Aldwych Speed Skating Club, is the current British champion for his age group winning the Pee Wee Boys Title in Nottingham at the British short track championships, in March, 2009.

He has been speed skating for four years at Guildford Spectrum ice rink after seeing a poster advertising it when on his way to a figure skating lesson, and has since got all his family involved.

After only four years in the sport Aydin has to take it seriously enough to train twice a week to maintain his standards.

But after his father and sisters also took up the sport, training sessions became more of a family day out.

Mr Djemal said: “We're all crazy for it, but Aydin's the only one who competes in Europe. We're very proud of him.

"He was not just the only boy from his club competing but he was the only British person for his age group.”

The Future Champions Trophy is a competition between the best 16 short track speed skaters in Europe. Aydin Djemal was one of three British skaters in the competition.

The teenager is currently receiving funding to help pay for his equipment and travel to competitions. He will be next in action again on Saturday, March 13, at the Guildford Spectrum.