With Olympic silver medallist Gemma Gibbons watching from the crowd, Sutton’s female judokas raised their game to regain the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games title at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Sutton conceded their crown to Greenwich in 2012 having won for the three previous years, but they were back on top after a great display from the whole team.

There were almost 500 young competitors in the male and female events all hoping to follow in the footsteps of Gibbons, who began her career at the London Youth Games before going on to glory at London 2012.

After a packed day of competition, Sutton were awarded gold from last year’s winners Greenwich who settled for silver ahead of bronze medallists Croydon.

Sutton team manager Andy Ede said: “We’re very proud. It was an excellent, fantastic competition and the girls did us proud. It was very close.

“Sutton won three years in a row but we didn’t win last year and to be back on top feels awesome. I’m really proud of them and they worked really hard. I was pleased with the team spirit, the way that they all supported each other.

"They went out and did the job. We absolutely love the London Youth Games, every year we want to come and do our best here.”

In the male competition, Sutton placed 14th overall.

They enjoyed individual success through Nathaniel Alioshias who won gold in the under 46kg class.

The 15-year-old of Wilsons School said: “It feels great to win, a lot of hard training paid off. It was my first time here but I have been doing judo for about two years.

“I thought I might get a medal but I was really nervous. I found the competition difficult but I powered through it and got the medal. My technique was my strength but I need to work on my power.

"It feels great to represent Sutton and I definitely plan to come back next year. But now I have to go home and revise, I have an exam on Monday.”

Elsewhere on site, there was another great result in the handball competition where Sutton won silver in the male final, just losing out to Greenwich 3-1 in the final. A growing sport, there were 13 boroughs competing.