TAEKWONDO star James Moran has set his sights on conquering Europe.

The 15-year-old, who is this year's winner of the Hereford Times Ted Woodriffe award, will be the captain of the ITF England Junior team at the European Championships in Italy in April.

Moran, who is from Withington, is currently the 2014 British Champion in sparring in the -57kg category after winning gold at the UKTA British Championships last November.

He now competes in the -60kg weight category but will soon be stepping up to -63kg.

In total, he won an impressive 10 gold medals in 2014, as well as a silver and three bronze and finished fourth at the ITF World Championships in Tajikistan.

Moran, who picked up his prize at last night's Herefordshire Sports Awards ceremony at Hereford Shirehall, also reached the quarter-finals of the European Championships in Belarus last April and is hoping to do better this time around.

"It is a massive honour to be selected as captain of your country at any level, especially as taekwondo is the most participated martial art in the world.

"They hold a massive ceremony beforehand and to be wearing the England tracksuit and suit is a huge incentive for me.

"I reached the quarter-finals last time, but that was my first international and I have done more national championships since.

"I finished fourth in the world and and beat Yuki Okano.

"I was down 5-4 in the first round, but remember catching him.

"He kicked me but I backed my leg up and kicked him in the ribs which put him down.

"That was my best moment."

Moran, who trains at Spirit Warrior in Fownhope, said he has loved competing in taekwondo ever since he took up the sport when he was four.

"It is a journey and I get to travel the world," said Moran.

"You can inspire children and it shows what you can achieve

"It is hard training and you are put on a diet.

"Every few weeks I go to Oxford and have sports science and medical tests and will be doing intense training in the weeks leading up to the Championships."

Moran said he decided to go to Spirit Warrior when he saw posters advertising it.

"I thought I would give it a chance," said Moran.

"When i was about 10 or 11 I started to stand out so thought I could take it to another level.

"I started doing Championships when I was 12 and soon started to win some."

Moran added that he wanted to thank his parents for supporting him, as well as England coach Alan Clarke and Master David Dykes.

The Ted Woodriffe award is presented annually by the Hereford Times to a promising young sportsman or sportswoman.

Ted Woodriffe was the paper's sports editor from 1959 to his retirement in 1991.