JUDO: A successful few days demonstrated the variety of activity and expertise at Kidderminster's Samurai Judo Club.

One of Samurai's senior coaches became an international referee and two juniors won silver medals at the British Senior Open Kata Championships.

And six members competed at the British Team Championships with three of them in medal-winning Midlands teams.

Already one of the most highly qualified coaches in the Midlands, Keith Merrick is now only the ninth International Judo Federation referee from 30,000 players in the British Judo Association.

Merrick, a rare sixth dan which is a grade above black belt, is now awaiting his first selection for major events abroad.

He is also a senior examiner, coach of the Wednesday senior session and former British competitive medalist but now retired.

The Samurai man started refereeing in 1987 and progressed to senior national level a while back before trying for his international status in two days of close scrutiny by the European Judo Union.

Meanwhile, Wesley Connor and Tom Walker were both in the Midlands boys team at the British Team Championships with Benjy Connor a reserve.

W Connor and Walker both won crucial contests as the region reached the semi-finals where they lost to the Northern Home Counties and eventually collected a bronze.

Kelly Edwards was in particularly devastating form as she joined Kerrie Pitcock and Kate Walker in the girls team.

Edwards won every contest by maximum scores within a minute but two close 6-5 defeats left the Midlands just one place away from a medal.

Pitcock, however, helped the senior ladies team to a bronze with the Northern Home Counties again proving the area's undoing.

She was entered for the British Kata Championships the next day but had to withdraw due to injury.

But she was quickly replaced by brother Ryan Pitcock who joined Ben Newbury at the contest which judges players on the perfection of techniques.

Newbury, already British champion in nage no kata, which concentrates on throws, was now aiming for the double in the groundwork discipline of katame no kata.

At just 15-years-old, and with R Pitcock even younger at 14, they were up against adult black belts.

But they still impressed everybody, making their way to the final before losing to the best current kata pair in the country and having to settle for silver.

For more details about judo or the Samurai club and their activities, telephone Tina Gaughan on 01905 452562 or visit www.samurai.org.uk