JUDO: A brilliant display from Kate Walker won her a bronze medal at the Heart of England Judo Championships at Birmingham's NIA.

There were over 650 top entries from all over Britain plus a few foreign entries in one of the toughest competitions in the judo calendar.

Walker fought her way through to the semi-finals with some excellent judo in her U-44kg category.

Only a single late low score, the first she conceded all day, prevented her defeating the current Scottish champion.

But she battled well to take the bronze with a great groundwork move.

Eight-year-old Amy Oertel, at the youngest age for competition, also took bronze in the lightest U-28kg category.

Ellen Ingram was in tremendous form, beating a series of top players to make the semis which she lost.

A moment's lapse when she seemed almost to fall over her own feet cost Ingram a medal in the bronze play-offs.

A tired Amy Darch still produced several great maximum-point throws on her way to seventh place.

Greg Oertel led the boys' charge in the U-30kgs category with some excellent wins but ended without a medal despite being a high score up in his semi at one point.

Several others boys produced good wins, including Ben Newbury, Benji Connor and Tom Walker.

In the senior men, Matt Dutton finished seventh out of around 30 players in his category.