Judo pair celebrate grabbing gold medals

Judo champions, who train in Smethwick, are celebrating after picking up gold medals.

Jack Webb and Zviad Tsiklauri both train at the 3Ks judo club based at the Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre and both picked up gold medals at the Heart of England event in their individual categories.

More than 800 competitors took part in the tournament which was held at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham earlier this month.

Another member of the club, Rob Holden, was also successful after competing in the World Masters Judo Tournament in Montreal, Canada last month.

He won gold in the under 73kg weight category age band 55-59 years. Just 10 days later he then continued his success by being awarded gold in the British Masters in Cardiff.

Club chairman Bill Webb, aged 53, who was British University Judo champion in the early 80s, said: "Obviously we're very pleased. We have people of a whole range of abilities doing well.

"At one end of the scale we have Zviad and Jack winning major competitions but then at the other end of the scale we have juniors picking up school competition medals and other lower grade medals. "We are a family orientated club and we want all our members to do well." The 3Ks club was formed in 1964 in Bleakhouse Road, Oldbury.

In 1968, the club moved to the Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre and was one of the first sports clubs based there.

Mr Webb, from Halesowen, added: "We have been going 46 years and I feel very privileged that I have been able to coach these people.

"I have been all over the world to watch people in competitions and to compete myself so I owe the sport a lot.

"Judo is becoming more popular. It teaches people valuable principles such as respect and it also teaches them self defence in a safe environment."

The club holds sessions on Mondays to Thursday between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.