BECKY Holmes won silver at the Scottish Open Championships in Edinburgh, with her Samurai Judo Clubmate Grant Jones also putting in a good performance.

Holmes, 17, reached the final of the under-20 years section comfortably, winning the semi-final with a particularly good drop shoulder throw. Unfortunately, in the final she conceded an early score and while chasing the match gave away a higher score which decided the contest.

Jones, 16, started with a maximum point win against a Spanish black belt but his hopes of a medal were dashed when he threw away a lead against the eventual bronze medalist.

Meanwhile, Kate Walker, clinched a gold medal at the Portugese National Team Championships after being allowed to compete as a guest player for a Lisbon club.

Four wins out of four put her team into the final and Walker's maximum point win against her opponent helped them to a 3-2 victory.

Another boost for Walker is news she has been selected to represent Great Britain at the European Under 23 Years Championships in Moscow next month.

With Sarah Clarke, the British senior number one and current European Champion, away in China with the Beijing Olympic team, the British selectors now seem to rate Walker as their second best senior player.

At 17-year-old, Walker will be the youngest player in the British team in Moscow by some distance.

Meanwhile, four Samurai juniors have been promoted to new colours. Benji Connor gained brown belt, whilst Rosie Tramontana and Amelia Hancocks both moved to blue, the colour immediately below brown. Amelia's younger sister Charis gained her green belt. This keeps both the Hancocks sisters ahead of their mum Sue, currently a senior orange belt and chasing her daughters up the grades.

For details about starting judo or the Samurai club phone 07761 122977 or visit www.samurai.org.uk