WORCESTER boy Loic Keasey's gold was among three medals for Samurai Judo Club at the British National Championships.

The 12-year-old Royal Grammar School Worcester pupil, competing in the age band for the first time, had a first-round bye and then beat a north England player in less than 30 seconds with a shoulder throw.

In the semi-finals against a Welsh opponent, Keasey secured maximum points with a backwards throw.

The final against a London player was less than 30 seconds old when he used the backward throw again for another maximum-point score and the gold medal.

Keasey won bronze at the British Minors Championships two years ago but this was certainly his best display and result to date by a long way.

He has been coached by Matt Ruff for seven years, initially at Worcester Judo Club and now at Samurai in Kidderminster.

Keasey's win made it four golds and eight silvers and bronzes in total for the Samurai club at British championships this year.

James Harrison and Harry Ashen won gold at the British Minors earlier this year and the club’s six medals at the British Veterans Championships included a gold for Gary Knight.

In the British National Championships, Samurai’s Olivia Turner was again light for the open weight category but made the final with two wins before having to settle for silver after extra-time.

Leah Grosvenor started well with two maximum-point victories but lost her semi-final before hitting back to claim the bronze play-off.

There were several good wins for Jake Ashen and Cerys Jones also put in a good performance as both finished seventh in their categories.

Grosvenor also entered the under 20s section and the 15-year-old won another bronze.

She had a wild-card entry for the senior event and far exceeded expectations by being just seconds away from bagging a medal.

For details about judo, visit worcesterjudoclub83.co.uk or samurai.org.uk.