SAMURAI’S London Olympic Games hopeful Kate Walker has been given a lift after receiving 12-month’s sponsorship by a major supermarket chain.

The 20-year-old, who is one of Great Britain’s top young judo hopefuls, has been given a financial lift by Waitrose.

This means that the Kidderminster resident, who is studying at the University of Bath, will receive financial support for new equipment and competition fees. She will also be aided by John Lewis’ partner company, Greenbee.

Walker was brought to the attention of the company by mother Cath, who works in the Waitrose in Droitwich.

She applied for the supermarket’s Partners in Sport scheme on behalf of her talented daughter.

“I compete in the under-63kg category, and this year I’ll be focusing on moving through the senior rankings,” said a delighted Kate.

“As a junior I came seventh at both the European Junior and European under-23s Championships, but things will get tougher now “I’ll be competing again in the under-23 category age group at the European Championships in November, so I hope to prove myself against older athletes and medal here.

“In the build-up to London 2012 I will be aiming to go the World Championships and Senior A tournament to obtain medals and ranking points.”

n Forty members from Samurai, most of them the newer junior members, have received grade promotions.

In the seniors, Jessica Sullivan, Andrew Talbot and Ian Curley-Floyd were all promoted to senior blue belt.

Meanwhile, beginners Tina Jefferson and Sarah McGowan both gained their first colour belt, which is red belt.

In the juniors, the highest grade awarded was top blue belt, which went to former British Champion Emily Watson.

British bronze medallist Sam Woodward gained his blue belt and Frankie Marston, also a British medallist and Welsh Open Champion, was promoted to top green.

Jack Harris moved to middle green, while Dan Watson and brothers Arran and Rory Gulliver all gained their green belts.

There was a top orange belt for Liane Gillespie-Akar, middle oranges for recent Midlands kata medallists Brendan Crummy and Leo Hopley, while Tom Richardson and Hayden Clarke both gained their orange belts.

Jimmy Watson moved to top yellow belt, Jamie Preston to middle yellow and Ben Jordan gained his yellow belt.

Top red belts went to Lauren McCredie, Mitch Sheasby and Amy Jefferson, while there were middle red belts for Dublin Cooper, Danielle O’Neill, Callum Charles, Darcie Hancocks, Alfie McPhie, Emily Harrison, Tal Page-Horrocks and Hannah Smith.

First red belts, the first step on the judo grade ladder, went to Hamish Beaumont, Jack Cahill, Michael Thompson, Tom Fell, Charlotte Relph, Katie Cox, Connor Cox and Alex Calder.

Anyone wanting more details about the club can call 0776 1122977 or visit www.samurai.org.uk