Twickenham's Olivia Weedon insists this year will be all about closing the gap to her international short track speed skating rivals after winning the British title for a second consecutive year, writes Frank Smith.

At 13, Weedon is one of the youngest competitors on the circuit after stepping up to Junior C age group, which involves skaters between the ages of 13 and 15.

But that did not stop her from claiming the British Championship’s Juvenile title in Nottingham on January 3, having claimed the national Pee Wee Girls crown last year.

Weedon said: “I am really pleased with the win because I am one of the youngest in the age group now because I moved up an age group so to keep on winning makes me really happy.

“At the weekend I think everyone competing was 15 apart from one other girl so it was great to get the win.

“Going into the British Championships I knew if I gave 100 per cent then I was capable of winning but I was not expecting to. I thought I might have come second or third so to come home with the win, I was thrilled.

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Winners: Olivia Weedon with her British Championship trophies and senior men’s champion Richard Shoebridge

“This year I just want to get some faster time so I can be more competitive with the older girls from other countries because when I go abroad I am not as competitive at the top because I am younger than most of the people competing.

“I am working on getting faster this year so I am competitive with them and next year I can have a real go at beating them.”

Weedon came second in the 500m event at the British Championships but won the 777m and 1000m individual titles to claim the overall Junior C crown.

But the St Catherine's School pupil still believes she could have performed better at the nationals and is working on her technique in the build-up to the Starclass 5 event in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, between February 19 and 21.

The Aldwych Club member added: “I noticed in the British Championship that there were certain parts of my technique I could improve and I want to make sure they are on point ahead of the next competition.

“It is unlikely I will make the Starclass final because I would have to win the next competition and there are some tough girls competing.

“There has been a step up in quality this season. Last year the taller and stronger girls were winning whereas this year it is more about the technical side so it has changed a lot. It is not just about being the most powerful now.”

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