KIDDERMINSTER Samurai Judo Club veteran Paul Jones proved there's life in the old dog yet as he won the silver medal at the European Masters Championships.
With 31 countries represented by over 400 top-class players, the opposition was strong.
Jones, competing in the over 100kg category, was dwarfed by some of the huge players present, including one weighing in at 187kg compared to his mere 112kg.
But he made a solid start and moved into the quarter-finals without any great difficulty.
Against the Italian champion, who had looked useful, Jones enjoyed a surprisingly easy match and a maximum-point win put him into the semis.
Then he met a Swiss player who was no match for his experience and skill, with Jones taking two early scores and then settling the contest on the ground, again with maximum points.
In the other semi-final, a Spanish giant was well beaten by an incredibly strong Russian player, an ex-Red Army fitness instructor, leaving a tough match for the Worcestershire man in the final. In the end, Jones lost out to a superb throw, which there was no arguing with, and had to settle for silver.
The 46-year-old took up the sport in the early 1970s at Kidderminster Judo Club before moving on to higher standard clubs such as Dudley Leisure Centre.
A few years after the Samurai club opened in 1979, he joined up and has been a stalwart member ever since.
His three sons also took up the sport at Samurai as soon as they were old enough.
A first-level black belt when he joined the Samurai, Jones moved up the grades until he reached fifth-level black, the highest contest grade possible three years ago.
He won the grade on a line-up at the British Veterans Championships.
Eldest son Chris is now a senior brown belt, with middle son Richard a second-level black belt and youngest Grant also a senior brown.
Jones' wife Vanessa is also a green belt -- they met through the sport --so the whole family is in to judo.
For details about starting judo or the Samurai club, call Debbie on 07791-269682 or visit the website at www.samurai.org.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article