TWO Hereford Combat Academy members have returned from the National Ju Jutsu Kumite Councils open grappling championships in Derby with gold medals.

In the junior section, Olly Bohn collected the gold medal in the under 35kg category while another gold medal went to Becky Hayes in the under 41kg category.

After two tough fights Becky faced a junior black belt, European champion in the semi-final. Becky dominated the fight and progressed to the final where she defeated club mate Luciano Celozzi.

Graham Coles had five fights, including wins against two strong Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters, en-route to the silver medal in the men's under 78kg category. In the final Coles faced Darren Currie, the holder of a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a black belt in traditional jiu jitsu. Despite a valiant effort Coles was forced to submit to a painful ankle lock.

Dean Bradbury is a promising up and coming academy fighter. Com-peting in his first area event, he put in a good performance to collect the silver medal in the men's under 95kg category.

Competing in the under 86kg category Pat Baker was defeated in the early rounds by the eventual gold medallist. Baker made a strong comeback in the repechage to take a bronze medal.

Baker's daughter Emma went one better than her father when, competing in the ladies open weight category, after two good wins she was defeated in the final and so had to settle for a silver medal.

Josh Reeves, Barnaby Flynn and Jason Kemp all progressed to the semi-final stages but lost their respective fights for the bronze medal.

The previous day, more than 500 competitors took part in the Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships held at the Excel Centre in London where Pat and Emma Baker gave their weekend a good start by completing a family double. Emma took the silver medal in the ladies under 64 category, while Dad Pat took a bronze in the masters under 87 kg division.