JUDO: Rare rules gave Samurai Judo Club's juniors the chance for some unusual contests as they brought home 21 medals from the Sasakawa Open Championships.

Players were able to compete in their own weight group and the one above, producing some interesting battles between Samurai team-mates who would not normally meet.

The Kidderminster club, up against 14 other groups, grabbed six gold medals alongside a further 15 silvers and bronzes.

Greg Oertel, Alex Dowling, Benji Connor, Tom Walker, John Connor and Kate Walker were all crowned champions.

Oertel and Wesley Connor carved through a good field in the lightest boys weight group of U-30kg to both make the final with the former taking gold.

They stepped up to the U-34kg section and again ploughed through the opposition to meet up in the semi-finals.

W Connor gained his revenge in a tight contest but was defeated by another club-mate Dowling in the final, while Oertel fought back for bronze.

Robin Woodward started well in the U-38kg group but was beaten by B Connor's fine leg sweep in the semis.

The Samurai boy then won his final in just eight seconds, launching his Kettering opponent into the air for maximum points. Woodward recorded two big victories for bronze.

British champion T Walker added a fourth gold in the U-42kg event after six wins, defeating B Connor with a superb throw in the final despite a few difficult moments.

The busy B Connor also entered the U-46kgs but the weight difference told as he was eliminated spectacularly by club-mate Ben Newbury.

Karl Gaughan performed well in the other half of the draw and took bronze after losing his semi-final.

Newbury also dispatched T Walker, who also hit back for bronze, on his way to the final.

But a single mistake cost him against a player he later beat in the next weight up and he had to be content with silver.

Normal service was resumed in the U-50kg division with J Connor taking the fifth boys' gold for the club with four maximum-point wins.

Newbury claimed a bronze and the less experienced Ryan Pitcock finished fifth.

In the U-55kg section, Ben Dowling snatched a bronze and Newbury managed a fifth place.

Only a late score in the play-off of a close clash prevented Lee Davenport from making the U-60kg final.

But Davenport did clinch bronze, added to another third place from Archie Shrimpton in the open category after he had refereed for most of the day.

There were no lighter categories for the girls and the middleweights started at U-52kg, meaning K Walker moved up from U-48kg.

It did not bother her and she secured gold with a fierce display, winning every contest in style.

Three convincing victories helped Charlotte Connor in the U-57kg final but she had to settle for silver against a good Devon player.

Emma Butler added a bronze for Samurai with good groundwork and another in the open category where she proved her throwing was useful as well.

Butler's result ensured Samurai had taken a medal in every single weight group in the boys' and girls' sections.

Anybody interested in judo can call Tina Gaughan on 01905 452562 or check the website at www.samurai.org.uk