JUDO: On-song Kate Walker cruised into her fifth consecutive final in major tournaments at the Wolverhampton International Classic.

The 13-year-old Samurai Judo Club starlet quickly disposed of all the British opposition on her way to the last stage where she met a top player from the USA.

It proved an interesting battle and Walker was the only player in the competition to get a score against the champion in a 3-1 defeat.

Benji Connor did well to reach the boys lightweights final where his silver medal justified his selection for the Midlands in the forthcoming British Junior Team Championships.

Connor will be joined by Robin Woodward, while the girls team includes Walker, Amy Darch and Ellen Ingram.

Walker's brother Tom, too young for British teams, clocked up a bronze as did John Connor who beat the player selected for the Midlands for a fourth time.

Ingram also did well in the girls middleweights for a bronze while Darch was let down by a single uncharacteristic error in the quarter-finals.

Greg Oertel finished fifth with three good wins despite giving away a lot of weight at 25kg in the U-30kg section.

Other good displays were from Ben Newbury and Abigail Muir who was competing in her first major event.

Six Samurai juniors qualified as referees following a Midlands course with a top international official.

Archie Shrimpton, Matt Hibberd, B Connor, Oertel, Emma Butler and Stefan Newbury all passed though the last two cannot claim their awards until they increase their contest grades slightly.

Ben Newbury and his busy brother Stefan are also now the youngest players in the Midlands to become contest recorders with the former scoring 99 per cent in his written exam.