JUDO: Respected Samurai Judo Club senior Keith Waldron is celebrating his promotion to third-level black belt.

The skillful star has been steadily racking up the points needed and required just one more win at the Midlands Combined Grading.

Waldron won every contest, defeating the other second-level black belts with his usual mix of foot sweeps and shoulder throws.

One of the lightest of the high grades, Waldron compensates with movement, superb timing and tremendous speed according to Samurai coaches.

At the same grading, Cheryl Williams gained her senior top brown belt and Chris Evans won every contest by maximum points for a top blue belt.

Stourport Judo Club's Andrew Tolley moved to top brown with his best ever display.

In the junior ranks, Samurai siblings Tom and Kate Walker terrorised most of the opposition at the Burnley Open Championships.

T Walker made the final with maximum-point wins in a category involving more than 30 players but he was caught out with a neat pick-up just seconds before the end of the contest.

His sister also had plenty of work to do with nearly 20 players in her weight group but stormed through to the final.

K Walker's final with one of her toughest rivals, a fellow British Cadet Squad member, ended in success after a strong backwards attack as the game went into sudden death.

Amy Darch scored some good wins despite being below usual form and faded to end up with a silver.

Lee Davenport added a bronze for the Samurai but there was disappointment for Ben Newbury who finished fifth after a series of good wins.

For details about starting judo, call Pam Whiteside on 01299 822347.