WITH the National Individual Junior Championships looming, two players from Littleport Judo Club have hit form with good performances in the Heart of England Age Banded Open Championships. Nicholas Johnson, 12, from Soham, came away from the tournament he

WITH the National Individual Junior Championships looming, two players from Littleport Judo Club have hit form with good performances in the Heart of England Age Banded Open Championships.

Nicholas Johnson, 12, from Soham, came away from the tournament held at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham with a silver medal in the 60kg category for players born in 1994 and 1995.

Nicholas won his first fight and recovered from defeat in the second to take victory with a throw in the third.

Andrew Pickerill, 14, from Wicken, returned from a five-day training camp with the national squad in Italy and made the move up to the 1992 and 1993 age band.

Facing more experienced opponents at 81kg, Andrew put in some good performances to finish fifth.

The event was the first of two qualifying events to secure a place on British Judo's 2008 World Class Start Programme for promising young judo players.

Nicholas and Andrew will both compete in the second qualifying event, the prestigious National Individual Junior Championships in Sheffield, next month.

Littleport Judo Club welcomes new players, young and old, and meets at Littleport Leisure Centre.

More information about the club is available at the Leisure Centre or by calling the coaches on 01553 763973 or 01553 840573.

Judo beginners aged eight years or older can take part in a 10 week Introduction to Judo course at Soham Village College.

The course will run every Thursday from September, 27. For more information or to register call Susannah Lewis on 01353 724119 or contact the Community Education Office on 01353 722297 or via e-mail at communityeducation@soham-college.org.uk