JUDO: SAMURAI Judo Club's Kate Walker confirmed her growing reputation as one of Britain's best with a silver medal at the Venray Intern-ational Open in Holland.

Becky Holmes also did brilliantly to clinch a bronze at the competition which attracts around 1,500 players from 20 countries.

Competing against the cream of the continent's talent in her usual under-63 kilos category, Walker started with a superb groundwork win over a Dutch girl.

A Slovenian girl gave her a few problems in the next round but was eventually dispatched with a neat sacrifice throw.

Walker then dominated the following match against a Swedish opponent, again securing another groundwork win.

She competed well in the final, but was undone by a neat throw from her Norwegian rival and had to settle for silver.

Having moved up to the under-70 kilo category, Holmes did well to find her form after suffering an early defeat to a German girl.

She beat another German on the ground in the next round and overcame another German on a penalty to make it to the bronze play-off where she beat a Norwegian.

Tom Watson finished ninth out of 50 in the boys under-66 kilos, gaining maximum points wins against opponents from Holland and France but losing to a Belgian and a German.

Emily Watson also had reason to be proud after finishing seventh in her first competition abroad without her parents.

She beat two Dutch players in between losing to another Dutch girl and an opponent from Belgium.

Alexandra Widdowson, Sarah Biles and Rosie Tramontana also gained valuable experience after fighting well, with one particularly good win from Widdowson.

For more details about starting judo or information about the Samurai club phone 07791 269682 or visit www.samurai.org.uk