A STUNNING performance by Samurai Judo Club's Sarah Biles ensured she won a gold medal at the Heart of England Championships in Birmingham.

Biles, aged 14, produced a perfect performance in her category, winning each bout with a maximum score, before defeating the Welsh champion in the final at the National Indoor Arena.

Success in Birmingham means that Biles tops her age group rankings and and is set to earn a place in the British judo squad in 2008.

Her success caps a brilliant tournament for Kidderminster club, which scooped six medals, a haul that included three golds.

Samurai had a 24 strong contingent at the championships and Kelly Edwards was the club's biggest winner, clinching golds in the juniors and seniors sections.

In the juniors section the club's younger members showed signs of a promising future in the martial art.

James Hatherill defeated a national squad player to finish seventh, while Chris Hancocks came up against the eventual gold and silver medal winners and finished fifth.

Twins Rachel and Sally Moon and Jack Harris all won contests, but it was Sam Woodward who provided the younger section with a medal, a bronze, after probably the best performance of his career to date.

In the older juniors, Emily Watson looked very much in-form and only lost to the British number one in the semi-final, before winning all of the rest of her contests comfortably to secure bronze.

Millie Hancocks made a strong start and won the early rounds but she was forced to pull out because of a back injury.

In the young seniors there were excellent performances from Ryan Pitcock and Grant Jones.

Three maximum point wins, including the scalp of a top British competitor, took Grant to the semi-final of his group, and he was unlucky to then finish fifth.

Ryan reached the semi-final and then lost an extremely tight contest for the bronze medal.

Tom Walker, who had only been back a day from a training camp in Italy, had to step up of the under-81 kilogram class. He started with three impressive wins and lost in the semi-finals, but bounced back to win the play-off for a bronze medal.

In the seniors, Annabel Webb and Nicky Haywood both finished in fifth place. Andy Marston had several good wins and was unlucky to finish seventh, after a momentary lapse of concentration saw his medal hopes vanish.

There were also good performances from Dan Watson, Jack Nelson, Frankie Marston, Craig Seldon and Rob Alloway.

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

Heart of England Championships medals summary: Sarah Biles (gold); Kelly Edwards (2x gold); Tom Walker (bronze); Emily Watson (bronze); Sam Woodward(bronze) Fifth: Clare Hatherill; Charis Hancocks; Ryan Pitcock; Grant Jones; Nicky Haywood; Annabel Webb.