SAMURAI have proved they are still one of the country's shining lights in judo after taking their medal haul for 2004 to almost 400.

Success for the Kidderminster club at the Midlands Counties Championships increased their trophy tally for last year to an impressive 377.

It falls short of the previous year's record of 496 but still sums up the strides Samurai are making under Andrew Haffner and the club's coaches.

Despite having just eight entrants at the last competition of the year, Samurai finished with seven medals.

Wesley Connor put in his best performance for some time to take a gold medal, while his older brother Benji also secured another top prize for the club

There were also bronzes for Ben Dowling, Ryan Pitcock, Ben Newbury, Amy Millington and Lottie Millington.

Over the year, Kate Walker topped the individual medals list with 21, ahead of Kelly Edwards on 17, A Millington, Rosie Tramontana and Poppy James all on 12.

Girls took the top seven places, with Newbury the highest placed boy on 10 medals.

Walker's medal tally was all the more impressive given the fact she was unable to enter many events due to national squad sessions.

She also topped Samurai's national/international medals table, with Edwards second and Tom Walker third.

K Walker also won the awards for best throw and best performance, but Stewart Wilson snatched the award for best groundwork performance at his grading in Bedford.

Tramontana and Sarah Biles were the training partnership of the year, and unsurprisingly also took the awards for the two most improved players.

The achievement of the year award went to Keith Merrick for gaining his International Referee Award, one of only eight British referees on the international list.

Newbury and Ryan Pitcock came second for their silver at the British Senior Open Kata Championships at the ages of just 15 and 14 respectively.

Club president Malcolm Limrick was third for getting elected to the British Judo Association Board of Directors, one of seven people entrusted with running the 1,000-club organization.

A Millington and Hannah Cooper were fourth for their gold at the British Junior Kata Championships. Kerrie Pitcock was named junior coach of the year and Stefan Newbury young official of the year.

Both Bewdley and Stourport judo clubs made a welcome return to competitive activity in 2004. Stourport edged ahead with seven medals, but it was Bewdley who took the gold medals with David and Jessica Sullivan.

Samurai start 2005 with a new beginners session at their Lisle Avenue premises on Fridays at 6.30pm for players under 13 with junior beginners over that age and adult beginners also on Fridays at 7.30pm.

The club is always looking for new members, telephone on 07971 869234 or visit the Samurai website on www.samurai.org.uk for details.