ANOTHER fine barnstorming performance from Charis Hancocks was the high point for Samurai at their Girls and Women’s Open Championships held at Gilt Edge Social Club.

Players from over 20 clubs came for the event, which started with a lower grades section for girls.

Samurai had just two entrants here, firstly Chloe Bustin in the third weight group, who showed some excellent groundwork in several wins on her way to the final, where she defeated a Welsh rival to take gold.

The second entrant was Emily Harrison in the next weight category up. Defeat to a Leicester girl in the semi-final finally ended the enthusiastic fighter’s chances of making the final, but she came back well to win against a Dudley girl to take the bronze.

In the girls’ higher grades section, Samurai had Bryony Griffiths in the lightest category, and she won every single contest by maximum point throws to take the gold.

Bustin had a go at this level too and although defeat to a Ludlow girl ended her chances of a place in the final, she came back well to win the bronze against another Welsh rival in her last contest.

In the lightweight category, Hancocks defeated an England squad player in the first round and then saw off all-comers to win gold.

Twins Rachel and Sally Moon were both in the next and last girls’ category.

Four wins gave Sally the gold medal, while Rachel ended up with bronze after losing to an opponent from the south of England against the run of play.

In the senior women’s lower grades section, Lisa Hughes and Tina Jefferson both won contests well.

Lisa, in the heavier weight group, ended up with the silver, while Tina gained the third medal of her fledgling career with a bronze, including an excellent win in her very first contest against a Nottingham University player.

Amongst the younger Samurai ladies, Amy Evans and Jess Sullivan were both doing well. Evans eventually pipped her clubmate to claim a place in the final, while Sullivan won bronze.

In the final, Evans lost a narrow contest to an opponent from the Royal Air Force.

The Moon twins were back in action in the senior women’s higher grades, with Rachel defeating her sister to make the final, which she lost to a rival from Bristol.

Sally bounced back to win bronze gainst another Nottingham University player.

Gemma Edwards, competing in the high grades lightweight category, gained the bronze with a fine win against a second level black belt. However, the star of the category was undoubtedly Hancocks.

Despite being only junior and far lighter than the other players, she recorded a series of wins to take an impressive gold medal, her second of the day and the club’s fifth gold of the competition. Anyone wanting more details about the club can call 07761 122977 or go towww.samurai.org.uk