KENDAL Judo Club's younger fighters matched opponents from all over the country in the Midland Area Under-20s Age-Banded Judo Championships at Aldersley Leisure Centre.

In the youngest age band, Sam Lester was narrowly denied the gold and took the silver at +50 kilos with another silver going to Matthew Wright at 46 kilos after a nail-biting final.

Many Kendal clubmates beat off the opposition, then had to fight each other, and there were bronzes for Tom Watson (-46k), Cameron Stewart (-42k), Nathan Hogg and Leigh Dickinson (both 38k), while Blake Robinson (-38k) and Mark Carruthers (-34k) took fifth places.

The age band for under-16s proved a challenge but Danny Harper, aged 14, captured the 73k bronze, while a valiant effort from 13-year-old Lian Wilson brought him the 81k bronze.

Calum Hartley (-66k) battled through a competitive group to finish fifth.

Kendal's older juniors outclassed the opposition in the oldest category for 20s. Bethany Hogg took the 70k gold and Michelle Raven regained her form to win the 57k silver and Steven Roger took the 60k bronze.

Bethany was a force in the North West Seniors Open the previous week, where she beat an old adversary to take the 70k silver.

Calum Hartley, Lian Wilson and Danny Harper, all members of the national boys cadet squad, put in creditable displays at the International Judo Tournament in Groesbeek, Holland.

February 7, 2003 09:30