Six of the best for Samurai in Minimon event

THERE was a strong turn-out at the Wyre Forest Minimon Team Championships, with 28 teams taking part from all over the Midlands and beyond.

Kidderminster's Samurai Judo Club took gold in both the boys and girls heavyweights, as well as bronzes in both sections, and also silver and bronze in the girls lightweights.

In the boys lightweights, the Samurai "Sons Of Wat" team, comprising Daniel Watson, Tom Wilkes and Michael Circus were unlucky to lose 2-1 to Telford, and then lost to eventual gold medalists Stratford Judo Club from London, which eliminated them. However, Luke Tramontana, on loan to Birmingham's Bushido club, won four out of five of his contests to help his team to bronze.

Samurai fielded three teams in the girls lightweights, but "Claudia's Crushers", with Victoria Davies and Claudia Chater, were too inexperienced, and although they put up a good show they were soon out of the running. Chater also guested for Telford (Wrekin Star) Judo Club in the girls heavyweights and her determination and spirit on her competition debut earned her the spirit of judo award for the day.

The Samurai "Charis's of Fire" team, made up of Sonia Cunningham, Charis Hancocks and Cara Galloway, was also inexperienced, but they did well to defeat the combined forces of Herefordshire girls 3-0, and another 3-0 win saw them into the semi-finals, where Kettering Judo Club defeated them 2-1 despite a good win for Galloway. However, they came back well to win the bronze.

The most experienced of the Samurai girls lightweight teams, the Samurai "Hermionies", made up of Rosie Wilkes, Lottie Millington and Kathryn Lowe, swept into the final with 3-0, 3-0 and 2-1 wins, but Kettering were too strong for them too and they lost 2-1 and had to settle for silver.

The Samurai fielded two boys heavyweight teams. "Ian's 'Itmen" featured Michael Circus, Adam Nutland and Ian Curley-Floyd, and they started well with 2-1 wins against Herefordshire and then Devizes Judo Club from Wiltshire, but a narrow 2-1 defeat against Birmingham ended their chances of reaching the final and they had to settle for bronze. However, there was no stopping the "Samurai Simons" team of Craig Seldon, Simon Cooper and Simon Cunningham. They stormed into the final without losing an individual contest and even in the final Birmingham were no match for them. They came away comfortable 2-1 winners to take the gold.

Samurai have always been known for a strong girls' section, but to be able to field five full teams in the girls heavyweights was impressive.

The "Monsters" team, made up of Rachel Moon, Charlotte Morgan and Emma Mountford, and the "Vogons" team of Kathryn Lowe, Deanna Murphy and Jessica Sullivan, did well to finish seventh with some good wins.

The "Klingons" team, comprising Sally Moon, Sophie Thomas and Christie Galloway, clinched several fine wins which took them to within just one individual win of the bronze. Unfortunately Huish Judo Club, Somerset, just squeaked past them by the narrowest of margins, but they can be proud of their fifth place.

The two more experienced Samurai girls teams, the "Borg Queens" of Amy Lawton, Amelia Hancocks and Sarah Biles, and the "Daleks" team of Cara Galloway, JoJo Cowie and Keeley Mills, were storming through the pools and knockout stages, but unfortunately met each other in the semi-final. Despite Amy Lawton's fourth consecutive maximum point win, it was the "Daleks" who triumphed and went into the final against Kettering. The Northamptonshire team were a tough outfit, but Cara Galloway overturned the form book to win, then Cowie quickly secured a groundhold to make it 2-0 and finally Keeley took just 14 seconds to launch a fantastic throw for maximum points, 3-0 and the gold medal.

Boys lightweights: Gold: Stratford Storm, London; silver: Kettering Kev's Killers; bronze: Wrekin Star Yellow Team, Telford, and Bushido 610 Little Boys, Birmingham.

Girls lightweights: Gold: Kettering Jade's Jokers; silver: Samurai Hermionies; bronze: Samurai Charis's Of Fire and Herefordshire.

Boys heavyweights: Gold: Samurai Simons; silver: Herefordshire Hippos; bronze: Samurai Ian's 'Itmen and bronze: Bushido 610 Big Boys, Birmingham.

Girls heavyweights: Gold: Samurai Daleks; silver: Kettering Sue's Superstars; bronze, Samurai Borg Queens and Huish Head Hunters, Somerset.