KEVIN KINNEY is a Samurai master!

The senior coach with Tyldesley Judo Club, a fourth dan black belt, grabbed double gold at the Samurai Masters.

He won both the 81kg class and the open weight category, fighting and beating heavier opponents with an overall total of 11 contest wins by maximum points.

Kevin had eight throws for Ippon (equivalent to a knockout in boxing), two contests by armlock submissions and one with a strangulation submission.

So successful was Kevin that his points earned him promotion to a competitive fifth dan - a rare feat.

But he must wait until December to officially attain that ranking, the full five years since he reached fourth dan.

Kevin is now offering a free trial session of judo to anyone wishing to try the sport.

The club meets in the upstairs gym at Tyldesley Voluntary Community Centre on Upper George Street on Mondays and Thursdays (7pm for juniors up to 15, 8.15pm for seniors).

You can also contact secretary Frank Jones on 01942-700073.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.