SAMURAI Judo Club's impressive collection of referees has been swelled following the qualification of eight more junior officials.

Ryan Pitcock, Katherine Lloyd Jones, Lottie Millington, Amy Millington, Andrew Beveridge, Becky Holmes, Kathryn Lowe and Alex Dowling all passed the first level exams.

Tom Walker, meanwhile, was promoted from Grade One to Grade Two. The club's competition officials team was also boosted. Mike Beveridge added to his son Andrew's success by passing his first level, timekeeper/scorer qualification, as did older son Matt. Archi Shrimpton was promoted to the second level, contest recorder, with a staggering 99% on his written paper.

Meanwhile, brothers Stefan and Ben Newbury were both promoted to senior recorder. Ben, at 15, already held the British record of the youngest ever recorder and is now the youngest ever senior recorder in Britain, gaining an exceptional 98 per cent in his exam.

Stefan Newbury and Shrimpton are also regarded as the Midlands most promising young adult referees. They have both been promoted to national referee at senior level following a strenuous assessment of both their theory and practical skills.

A club spokesman said it was good to see the technical side reaping rewards. For details about the club phone 07971 869234.