A WHIRLWIND performance from Samurai’s Darcie Hancocks saw her take the gold medal at the London International Open Championships.

There were a dozen good players in her category, under 32 kilograms, but it took Hancocks a total of only 12 seconds to reach the final with a series of incredibly rapid maximum point throws.

In the final she faced a very experienced player from Berkshire but was quickly a high score up and then gained two more scores, before putting her opponent out of her misery thanks to a final maximum-point throw with a minute on the clock.

Although too young to enter many of the top events, Hancocks already has a series of titles to her credit including gold at the Kent International Open last year and also gold at the West Of England Open.

Samurai’s Brendan Crummy was also in fine form as he progressed to the semi-final of his category before bowing out, though he still bounced back to take bronze in the play-off.

It was a similar story for Charis Hancocks, the older sister of Darcie, who claimed bronze after a momentary lapse of concentration saw her beaten in a semi-final.

Veteran Rob Alloway was the last Samurai player to compete and he too took bronze, winning his last contest with a neat hold-down.

Samurai will hold a formal opening of their new gym on July 1 and are looking for former members who may wish to attend.

For details conract Andrew Haffner on 07761 122977 or visit the website samurai.org.uk Meanwhile, Samurai’s Ben Newbury was selected as tournament director for the British Open recently, making him one of only a very few people to have been in charge of running this flagship judo event.

Only six people have held the post in the last 40 years, and Newbury, at the age of 23, is the youngest to have done so.

He is also the second member of the club to hold the position, after Malcolm Limrick, who is club president and ran the Open for a number of years in the 1990s.

Samurai have by far the strongest team of competition organisers in the country, better not only than any other club but also better than any area.

Ben and his brother Stefan are also responsible for the computer program which runs most major British events, while their mum Sarah, who is also chair of the club, is generally rated Britain’s best tournament director, with Ben close behind in second place.

Newbury is also a third level black belt, a former British kata Champion, a qualified coach and a high level national referee.

Head coach Haffner said: “There are more pathways to success than just the competition side.

“And Ben has reached high level in just about all of them.”