JUDO: Most of Samurai Judo Club's top juniors flocked to the Great Britain Sasakawa Judo Championships to test themselves at their own weight category and the one above.

The impressive Kate Walker took two golds among 15 medals for the Kidderminster group at the unique and tough event.

There was also an excellent effort from John Connor who won a gold and silver with Robin Woodward and Ellen Ingram also earning two accolades each.

Walker really got the Samurai girls' campaign going in the light-middleweights as she built on Stacey Mayo's bronze in the lightweights event.

She was lethal against a quality field of opponents with maximum-point wins and textbook moves.

The Kidderminster youngster, who is constantly improving, repeated the feat in the U-48kgs category to earn a double gold.

Connor starred in the boys' U-42kg section, sweeping into the final and scoring twice against a tough opponent for first place.

The in-form player recorded a series of good wins in the next weight group but was eventually held in the final after giving a good display against a Swindon opponent.

At just 27kgs, Greg Oertel stepped up to U-30kgs and fought his way through to the semi-finals where he came unstuck against a strong player from Northampton.

Sam Stone also lost in the last four but, like Oertel, battled back with maximum points in the bronze play-off.

However, Woodward made the final but was beaten by the Northampton boy, a friend of his, in an epic battle.

Oertel moved up to U-35kgs and did brilliantly to make the quarter-finals before being beaten by a player who defeated Woodward in the semi.

On the other half of the draw, Benji Connor looked good but lost his semi narrowly and then had to withdraw with a jaw injury.

Woodward recovered with a good win for bronze against an old foe.

In the U-38kgs category, Karl Gaughan looked a little out of his depth but Tom Walker calmly won through to a fine final against a good Bristol rival who confined him to silver with a late throw.

Archie Shrimpton won bronze in the light-heavyweights and bravely entered the open category as did the heavier but young Kyle Everton.

Neither finished in the medals though Everton threw a brilliant maximum-point score to win against the odds in one contest.

In the girls, three tackled the heavy-middleweights with Charlotte Connor doing well for a bronze.

But the real interest was in the other semi-final where Gemma Mansell took on club-mate Ellen Ingram.

A great counter-technique gave Mansell a maximum-point score as Ingram started too gently.

Ingram had beaten the other finalist in the early rounds but had to settle for bronze while Mansell's lack of experience cost her in the final.

However, her silver was another step in her comeback after several years away from the sport.

Mansell was then beaten by the eventual gold medallist in the light-heavyweight section but Ingram was making up for past errors.

A series of strong wins took her to the final where she at last met her match against a Welsh player.