HETTY Tinsdale and Jack Walker took gold medals for Samurai Judo Club at the club’s Cadet and Pre-Cadet Open at Walsall.

The event, aimed as a warm-up for the forthcoming British Championships, attracted a strong entry from all over the country.

In the boy's cadets, Nathan Gallacher had most of Britain’s best players and did well with two excellent wins including beating the current British champion to reach the semi-finals, but then lost and had to settle for bronze. Matt Hemer finished seventh.

In the girl's cadets, many eyes were on Leah Grosvenor, competing in the cadet age band in Britain for the first time. She had two excellent early wins before coming up against one of her main rivals for the future.

This was a titanic contest which went for nearly eight minutes before her fitness failed and she conceded a score. This was however Leah’s first defeat in Britain for well over a year. She came back to win the bronze.

Hetty had no problems, winning all five of her contests by maximum points to take the gold, and in the next weight above that Olivia Turner had three maximum point wins on her way to the final which she lost narrowly to an old rival, and so had to settle for silver.

In the younger Pre-Cadet age range, Jake Ashen reached the semi-final before losing to a London player, but came back well to defeat a Liverpool player for the bronze. Martin Allen collected the bronze with a great win in his last contest against a Cardiff player, whilst Jack Walker had three victories to take the gold medal.

Meanwhile, Mike Chamberlain, who now helps Ali Lane coach the junior beginners group on Fridays after his daughter started judo at the club, travelled to Florida for the World Masters.

There were 26 players in his category from Brazil, Belgium, Sweden, USA, France, Czech Republic, Canada, Russia, Italy, Argentina and Italy, but Mike won all five of his contests to take the gold medal.