DANGEROUS Danielle Baker has added a Commonwealth silver medal to her ever-expanding trophy cabinet.

The 15-year-old Crewe-born martial arts ace scooped an impressive second place while representing Wales in the Under-55kg Junior category at the Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships in Australia.

The Alsager School pupil will proudly place the gong alongside the golds she won at the London Open and City of Liverpool Championships recently, plus her Junior Olympic silver medal, Korean Open bronze, Canadian Open bronze and Portuguese Open gold.

Dad David, who coaches Danielle at the Sandbach-based Matrix UTA Taekwondo Club, said: 'Danielle was the youngest competitor in her class, which was open to 17-year-olds. She trains five times a week and goes to at least one competition a month and she deserves all the success she has had.'

World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) Taekwondo is a fast, full contact sport. Points are scored with kicks or punches to the body, or with kicks to the head. Protective equipment is used.

Fearless Danielle sailed through the qualifying rounds to the showpiece final at the Brisbane Indoor Sports Arena.

But she had to wait for several hours for the final, against an Australian 17-year-old, and the jet lag began to take its toll.

Although she dominated the finale, the sharpness she had possessed earlier in the day had deserted her and she was unable to score enough points to secure victory.

Danielle also entered the Under-55kg Senior category to gain valuable experience, but was knocked out in the quarter final by an outstanding Malaysian player.

She was also part of the Welsh pattern team that won the second place team trophy for patterns on day two of the competition.

She will eligible to compete in the same categories in two years time, when the next Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships are held in Canada.

Danielle teaches youngsters at the Sandbach club, at the Sandbach Literary Institute, Hightown, on Wednesdays from 7pm. For more information contact David on 07785 577226.

* Youngsters at Coppenhall Shobu Judo Club have caught the eye by winning two trophies.

First, female members of the popular outfit came out on top in their section at the Roxborough Championships, Northwich, while the club as a whole won the Rex Blakemere Trophy in Northwich soon after.

A spokesman said: 'Many of our members do not have a great deal of experience, but they are doing extremely well and benefiting from the guidance from sensei Les Davidson.'

The club practices between 7pm and 9pm at Coppenhall Leisure Centre on Thursdays. Contact Les Davidson on 07701 091794 for details.