A SENSATIONAL performance from the Samurai Masters squad saw them take two gold medals and three silver medals at the Commonwealth Tournament in Walsall.

The five-day event featured more than a thousand judo players from every continent and almost every country of the Commonwealth.

Friday’s section was the Masters section, for veteran players, and Samurai had six of their top men taking part.

First up was the oldest age band, and lightweight Roy Muller, aged 73, was taking part in his first competition for more than a decade.

His recent training paid off as he made his way to the final but was up against a stronger player from Wales and had to settle for silver.

Muller is a former World Masters medalist and was recently awarded his sixth level dan grade.

Mike Chamberlain, aged 53, a former World Master Champion, was expected to do well despite a shoulder injury.

He settled into his stride and excellent wins against players from South Africa and Scotland took him into the final against another Scot where a well-executed sacrifice throw earned him the gold medal.

Craig Bowater, another 53 year-old, was competing for the first time in three decades and started well, but unfortunately an elbow injury sustained against a player from India meant that he was unable to progress.

Paul Jones, 60, is one of Samurai’s longest-serving members, a 6th dan and former European Masters silver medalist, his three sons are black belts at the club.

He had a tough category in the open weight division but started well and got through to the semi-final against a former high-level British International player, Nick Kokotaylo.

They had fought each other 42 years ago and now renewed the battle. Jones dominated the contest and was comfortably the winner which put the Samurai man into the final against a giant Scot.

On centre stage in front of the large and appreciative crowd, Jones produced one of the best throws of the tournament, a massive and spectacular shoulder throw to score maximum points and take the club’s second gold medal of the day.

Matt Dutton, aged 37, made several superb maximum point throws on his way to the final against another English player.

He dominated the early stages of the final but as the contest wore on it was clear that the other player was fitter and in the end Dutton succumbed to a ground hold and had to settle for silver.

Gary Knight, 36, has been British Masters champion for the last two years and this time round started out with excellent wins against a South African and a Scot to put himself into the final.

Knight looked the better player in this contest but it was scoreless going into extra time.

The Samurai man put in an attack when slightly off-balance and was countered and lost out but it was another silver medal for the squad and five medals at this level was the best result ever from the Samurai Masters squad.