THERE was double success for Kendal Judo Club as Michael Horley and Sophie Cox both secured gold at the English Open Championships in Sheffield.

Fighting in the under-90kg weight group, Horley started proceedings with the fastest throw of the championships – a six-second ankle sweep on Tomas Zaleckis from Midlands club Melbourn.

His next contest was a longer affair with the 26-year-old eventually throwing London’s Adam Horshal with one of his favourite techniques – the shoulder throw (Seoi Nage) for the full point.

In the semi-final his constant attacks against Liam Donkin saw the Scot was penalised for passivity as Horley progressed to the final against Max Stewart. 

With his opponent having to constantly defend for five minutes, narrowly escaping two shoulder throws, the referee’s hand went up on the side of the Kendal judoka for the gold.

Cox was equally dominant in her under-57kg weight category, throwing Scotland’s Malin Wilson with the same shoulder throw which proved successful for her club mate.

In her next showdown against Tara Fitzjohn from Anglia Ruskin University, an armlock halfway through the contest gave her another full point win.

In the final against Bletchley’s Jodie Caller, the contest went the full four minutes but a half point throw ensured Cox returned home with gold.