SAMURAI Judo Club coach Mike Chamberlain has hit a new high after gaining his third level black belt.

Mike has always been a competitor and after an excellent contest career in his youth he has continued as a veteran, winning the World Masters Championships in Florida in 2016.

This year he was part of the Samurai team, alongside Matt Dutton and Martin Brown, who won gold at the Bev Teams Championships in the hotly contested masters team event.

He gained the last of his contest points whilst winning the British Masters Championships in Edinburgh in last 2016, but has only just completed the theory element.

Mike joined Samurai after choosing the club for his daughter Ida and has since become involved with coaching, helping Ali Lane with the Friday night session for beginners and less experienced players in the 8-13 years age range.

The session starts at 6.30 at the club’s Zortech Avenue premises and new members are welcome.

Meanwhile, Lucas Kent gained a bronze medal at the Midlands Age Bands at Walsall. The only Samurai player to compete at the event, Lucas won the bronze in his last match with a beautiful maximum point throw.

The new England Regional Development Squad has been announced, with no less than five Samurai young players selected for the squad, which is for players under 14 years of age. James Harrison, Cerys Jones, Loic Keasey and Jake and Harry Ashen all made the team.