JUDO: Sarah Wilson made a triumphant return to contest judo with a gold medal at the Kent International Open Championships at London's Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

With 1,000 judo players taking part in the two day competition, it promised to be a tough event.

But the Samurai Judo Club teenager, British national bronze medallist for the last two years running, started well.

A series of maximum point wins took her into the final against a Dutch girl.

Wilson conceded an early score but quickly hit back with a maximum point throw to end the contest and earn the gold in her first competitive outing of the year.

Her Samurai club-mate Emmy Kimberley was also trying hard and finished seventh in her category.

Meanwhile, Mike Waldron has become the latest Samurai player to reach high grade by attaining his fourth-level black belt.

Waldron, a veteran light-middleweight player, defeated the contest line-up for his grade a while ago but has only just completed the theory.

At the same theory examination, Joyce Malley also passed her fourth dan theory and Mat Godfrey his second dan theory.

Both have yet to complete the contest requirements although they are well on the way to doing so.

Samurai Judo Club have received a major award by being selected as a high quality practice centre by the British Judo Association under the World Class Performance Plan.

The scheme is administered through the government sports development agencies and is designed to help develop Olympic stars of the future.

Samurai's Lisle Avenue premises are already the South Midlands centre for the Midlands Senior Squad, the Midlands Kata Centre and the sole Worcestershire Grading venue.

But the latest award will help the club assist players in the British senior and junior squads and those aspiring to that level.

For details about starting judo, call Pam Whiteside on 01299 822347.