TOP Hereford Judo player Stan Cantrill gained a hard-earned bronze medal in the open category at the fifth World Masters Championships.

The championships were staged at Kodokan in Tokyo, Japan, the birth place of Judo over a century ago, and attracted the biggest international entry of nearly 1,000.

Cantrill was unable to gain a medal in his age and weight category, but then did well in the open for his bronze - a coveted medal at the famed Kodokan venue.