JM Judokwai Club saw 10 of its members competing in the British Schools Judo Association Age banded competition in Berkhamsted, where entrants represented their schools, and not the respective clubs they belonged to. Kristofer Francombe in the 8–10 years

JM Judokwai Club saw 10 of its members competing in the British Schools Judo Association Age banded competition in Berkhamsted, where entrants represented their schools, and not the respective clubs they belonged to.

Kristofer Francombe in the 8-10 years boys under-34kg. won two opening bouts with consummate ease, both with Ippon score shoulder throws.

Another magnificent Morote Gari ended the hopes of his semi-final opponent again scoring the 10 point Ippon.

The final was a more evenly matched bout, and his Russian opponent was wise enough not to walk on to any of Kris' armoury of techniques, in fact from one such move the Russian lad countered with a solid backwards throw but scored the lower score of Waza'ari - seven points.

Francombe knew he had to raise his game, and within a few seconds took his opponent over with a resounding Harai Goshi for the Ippon score to win the gold medal in style.

Next out was Sophie Francombe in the 11-13 years under 44kg, and not to be outdone by her younger brother she also went into the fray with only one intention.

Using a ground hold in her opening bout to secure Ippon, Sophie decided to use her undoubted skills with her throwing techniques, and she won her two following bouts with excellent Ippon Seoi Nage throws for Ippon's both times.

In her final, she managed to gain two important scores to win by the Ippon margin, and justly earned her gold medal.

Emma Reid is another of the club's star performers in the contest arena, and she also made light work of her pool final in taking the gold medal.

Reid has an array of technique in contest second to none and showed her considerable talent with a thundering O Goshi hip throw to secure her opening win.

Leonie Hall is a rising star in the ranks, with just a year in the sport she continues to gain confidence with every outing, and makes sure every opponent has to work hard for their win.

She managed a boosting win in her penultimate contest to scrape into a bronze medal place.

Dawn Smith was another bronze medal winner, and continues to prove her worth.

Jonathon Stocks is also finding his feet in contesting, and took a very good opponent nearly the full distance, with two yuko scores to his credit before the opponent managed to pin Jonathon to the floor for the required 25 seconds.

Neil Smith's tournament was ruined by injury following an illegal throw, that went unpunished.

Fortunately after a long episode of attention, it was thought that a muscle spasm was the result of this painful episode, and he was obviously not able to take any further part in the proceedings.

Another player to suffer an injury was Chloe Fisher. She lost her most important battle with the scales, and for the first time ever was consigned to the under 52kg division.

Although trying her very hardest to keep up with her heavier opponents, she did not manage a win, and in her last bout was badly hurt from an ugly foot sweep attempt that resulted in the opponent falling on her leg, and pulling the knee tendons which needed hospital attention afterwards.