Bronze first for Newbury judoka

JUDO: British Championship success for Oliver as he gets onto the podium at Sheffield

OLIVER Harris became the first Newbury Judo Club boy to claim a bronze medal when he got onto the podium at the British Championships staged at the iceSheffield arena.

Almost 700 of the country's brightest young judo prospects were in action over the weekend, and Newbury were close to two medals with Morgan Cullum narrowly missing out on another bronze.

Harris was successful in the under 42 kilo pre-cadet boys section, in which he had a first round bye before winning his second round bout with an Ippon throw inside 20 seconds.

His third round fight saw him win with a Yuko score to put him into the semi-finals, but a mistake cost him the contest and he went into the bronze medal fight, in which he took control and threw his opponent for Yuko before securing him in a hold-down to take the bronze medal.

Morgan Cullum fought in the under-40kg pre-cadet girls section, also receiving a first round bye before throwing her second round opponent for Ippon to reach the semi-finals.

Her semi-final bout was all-square after normal time and went into a golden score, in which her opponent scored a Yuko to win the fight.

She had to fight off for the bronze, but was unable to get the better of her opponent and lost the fight to finish in a creditable fifth place.