JUDO: Tina Pitcock has gone from watching her children clinch their own medals to winning the veteran gold in the North-west Senior Open in Manchester.

Kerrie, 15, and Ryan, 13, had taken their first competitive medals, leaving their mother to remember her own days 20 years ago as a brown belt in Zimbabwe.

But Kidderminster's Samurai Judo Club coaxed T Pitcock back onto the mat and this was her first competition for two decades.

She faced a third-level black belt from Reading in the final but countered her superbly to win the gold.

Samurai club-mate Sue Cosnett added a bronze in the same weight category and was unlucky not to also reach the final.

The Pitcock juniors are competing in the Derbyshire Open soon so the family will be busy again though father Gary seems happy to watch from the safety of the spectator seating.

Classy gold-winner Paul Clarke was also at the North-west Open in the senior men's U-73kg category and looked on form.

Four useful opponents were dispatched in fine style as Clarke ploughed his way into the final.

Within half-a-minute, he went a high score up and then finished the contest with a leg sweep, set up by excellent movement, at the end of the first minute.

Matt Dutton was unlucky to lose his first encounter in the men's black belts but hit back well to take the second with a fine throw.

But defeat in his third contest ended Dutton's medal hopes, while fifth-level black belt Paul Moss finished fifth in the men's veterans.

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

Two Samurai players are heading to Japan in June for the World Veteran Masters Championships.

Cosnett and Moss will go to the Kodokan which is home of world judo in Tokyo.

The club have won at least one medal each year but the opposition this year is likely to be tough due to the venue.