AMY Darch, Ellen Ingram and Kate Walker have been selected to represent Great Britain in an international event in Holland this month to round off a great year for the Kidderminster-based Samurai Judo Club.

The highlight of 2001 was undoubtedly the five medals gained at the British Junior National Championships.

But that was only part of a total of just under 300 medals won by local players, all from the Samurai club whose dominance of local judo has now extended to being second strongest club in the Midlands behind Wolverhampton.

Other highlights included Darch winning a silver at a full senior event at the age of just 12, Walker taking a tremendous silver and Emmy Kimberley a bronze at the Midlands Open which was attended by the full national squads as a selection event.

Joyce Malley got in on the act with gold at the World Veterans Championships, and there was also gold at the British Veterans Championships for Mike Waldron who also collected his fourth dan, the highest grade won by a Samurai member in the year.

Double gold was struck by Debbie Read at the British Police Championships, with medals also for Jim Neale and Martin Brown.

Darch finished top medallist of the year with 21, but as she also took four kata awards, qualified as a grade two junior referee and won the Midlands Junior Referee Of The Year Award.

Walker was just one behind on 20, but she also won numerous kata awards and qualified as a junior refereee.

Kimberley finished third, and although still only 15 she has beaten eight senior black belts this year in competition.

Tom Walker and Ben Newbury were the top boys in fourth and fifth places, and again both excelled in both kata and refereeing.

The seniors were rather quieter during the year, with Waldron and Louise Dunne the top male and female respectively.