TWINS Sally and Rachel Moon are the new Samurai Judo Club kata queens after winning gold at the Midlands Kata Championships.

The sisters won the top prize for their junior groundwork kata and also took bronze in the junior throwing kata.

Kata is a non-contest form of judo where moves must be done in a precise way, direction and point on the mat.

Although better known for their contest judo, the Samurai club are one of the top kata clubs in the country.

The Moon twins clinched the bronze in the throwing kata last year and repeated the feat again despite Rachel rather than Sally doing the throws.

In the groundwork, Sally took the role of the attacking player with Rachel as the defender as they impressed the judges to win comfortably.

In the strong senior kata section Kate Walker paired up with Portugese champion Eduardo Leonardo to take bronze in the throwing.

In the groundwork, Kate Walker and chief coach Andrew Haffner, entering his first kata competition for five years, took bronze along with Tom Walker and Ben Newbury.

Despite being just 14, Tom Walker overcame a string of quality adults to finish a creditable fifth at the Hampshire Senior Open the following day.

Phil Brick, meanwhile, continued his comeback, with a silver medal after retiring from the final because of a shoulder injury.

For details about starting judo or information about the Samurai club and its activities, telephone 0776 1122977 or visit the Samurai website on www.samu rai.org.uk.