SAMURAI Judo Club starlet Sarah Biles gained valuable experience by competing in the Junior European Championships in Belgium.

Biles, who is only the second member of the Worcestershire club to qualify for the tournament, found the going tough in the De Soeverein Stadium in Lommel as he lost to Israel’s champion and sustained a shoulder injury.

Biles picked up the problem early in the bout when she launched a powerful backwards attack, which her opponent just evaded, and landed awkwardly.

Despite being unable to use her full strength, she continued to take the fight to her opponents but a counter-attack by the Israeli which secured maximum points knocked her out of the tournament.

Nevertheless, apart from the massive achievement in qualifying for the event at all, Biles could be pleased with her performance, which showed she can hold her own at this level.

Her international results this year include medals in Belgium, Holland, Spain and Lithuania, the last one being at a European Cup event, only the second player from the county, clubmate Kate Walker, to secure one.

Biles has collected over 50 medals in her career and is a second level black belt well on her way to the next one.

Despite only entering major events this year has already won 19 medals so far in 2011, miles ahead of her nearest county challengers.

In addition to her contest skills, Biles is a successful kata player, a senior referee and senior table official, a former British Young Official Of The Year.

She also assists with coaching the junior beginners and sometimes the experienced juniors at the club.