SAMURAI trio Olivia Turner, Matt Hemer and Leah Grosvenor were the big winners at the club’s annual awards, presented at their Christmas party.

Turner was presented with the won the junior achievement of the Year award for winning gold at the European Special Needs Championships in Amsterdam last summer.

The senior achievement went to Archi Shrimpton, who became the first referee from the club to reach international status, having gained his IJF Continental level at the European Cup in Serbia.

Hemer won the coveted Rod Lane Award for overall attitude and spirit of judo.

He also clinched the performance of the year award for winning five contests at the Venray International in Holland.

Lauren Fletcher was runner-up for this award for her bronze at Heart of England, with Hemer third because of his efforts at the same tournament.

Five particular contests stood out this year for the Kidderminster club, with Leah Grosvenor’s standout victory against Chloe Gowan in the final of the Devizes Open just edging ahead of Darcie Hancocks’ victory against Scottish number one Yasmin Gordon in the teams final of UK School Games as contest of the year.

James Hemer, Darcie and Andrea Fani also featured in the top five.

Grosvenor's winning move in that contest at Devises also scooped the the throw of the year award, ahead of Toni Poulsom from the Western Area Schools Open in second place.

Best groundwork of the year performance went to Sophie Deeming-Lane from the Rod Lane Championships.

Good performances by Callum Spencer, Cerys Jones, Evan Turner, Like Mole and Aiden Maguire also caught the eye.

Nick Ashen won the parent player of the year award – he also won gold at the British Masters Championships.

Stuey Main and Cerys Jones won the best junior beginner award.

The best young juniors awards went to Edward Martin and Meghann O’Sullivan. The training partnership of the year award went to the pairing of James Hemer and Ellie McAteer for the second consecutive year.

Greg McAteer was volunteer of the year, while Becky Hobby's efforts at the British Schools Championships saw her rewarded.

Laura Dangerfield topped the club and county medals table with 23 medals overall, pipping Olivia Turner who clocked up 21.

In terms of national and international medals however, Darcie Hancocks was the clear winner with eight,while Dangerfield bagged five. Turner was voted the overall player of the year Award, Grosvenor was named best junior girl.

The best junior boy prize went to Matt Hemer the Best Junior Boy award, while Dangerfield was best senior women. Nick Ashen won the best senior man award.

Impressive club Samurai finished in the top ten in the British Club League out of over 1,000 clubs in the British Judo Association.