SAMURAI Judo Club hosted the British Schools Special Needs Championships at their Zortech Avenue premises and two of their players stormed to gold medals.

Olivia Turner, from Stourport High School, has already won a series of medals in mainstream competitions, including a recent gold medal at the Kent International.

She won her first contest at this event with a ground hold for maximum points, which put her into the semi-final.

Turner then won this with on two high score throws and this put her into the final against a Bristol girl.

As with the previous two contests, the Samurai youngster totally dominated the contest and produced an excellent backwards throw for maximum points to take the gold medal.

Callum Fletcher, who attends Lickhill Primary School, won his first contest in style and this put him into the semi-final against another Bristol player.

He won this by maximum points from two high score throws and this put him into the final against a player from the north of England.

This was a much closer contest, but Fletcher was always the better player and at the end of the contest the referees adjudged him the clear winner, which gave him the gold medal.

The organisers of the event also put on an open category both boys and another for girls.

Turner entered the girls open and again completely dominated the category and won all three of her contests to take her second gold medal of the day.

Fletcher added a bronze, winning his way into the semi-final but losing that to a much older player and then going on to win the bronze.

The British Schools Judo organisation is now using the Samurai premises in Zortech Avenue for a number of their events.

The club’s superb purpose-built premises are also being used for national coach courses and technical and education courses as well as the Worcestershire County Squad and other activities.

For details about starting judo or information about the Samurai club and its activities, telephone 0776 1122977 or visit the Samurai website on www.samurai.org.uk