Competitors from all over the North of England met at the Kendal Dojo to take part in the Koka Kids judo championships.

Sponsored by the international judo magazine for young players, two local boys came out of a hard competition with gold medals.

Josh Holmes was first on the mat and spent less than two minutes in his three contests to come away with Kendal’s first gold – beating two players from Wigan, one of whom was three grades higher than the Kendal player – and a third from Manchester.

All Josh’s contests were won with full point (Ippon) throws.

In the next category Archie Howard had a harder set of contests. First he beat William Byers from Billinge with two half point throws, then Harry Gates from Forton with a shoulder throw for a half point quickly followed by a hold for the full point.

His final contest was against fellow club member Aiden Thexton, which went the full distance with Archie getting a half point throw in the closing seconds.

Silver medals went to Ben Myers and Alex Nuta, with Bartek Nowak, Jenson Howard, Jack Hodgeson gaining bronzes.

A senior competition was run alongside the junior event, with Abdul Ben Hamida beating Neil Spencer from Manchester, Cameron Cornall from Lancaster. Ian McCall and Ian Morgan both from Scotland. In the last contest of the day Abdul produced the throw of the day with a side sacrifice throw for the full point. Nick Mayo and Sam Ensoll got bronze.

Left to right are Archie Howard (silver) Aiden Thexton (Gold) and Bartek Nowak (Bronze)