Judo PINEWOOD Judo Club siblings Megan and Ben Fletcher both picked up silver medals in different European competitions last weekend.

Megan came second in the under 70 kgs at the European Women’s Open in Rome while brother Ben, 21, also won silver medal in Glasgow at under 100 kgs in the European Judo Open.

The Brit, who was a bronze medallist at the junior worlds, lost out on gold to Ascot-born Olympian Euan Burton, who rates Fletcher very highly.

Burton said: “I’ve fought Ben a couple of times, mainly more for fun in Randori, but he’s a really good judo player.

“He’s up and coming, and somebody the British public should definitely be looking out for in the future. To be fighting him in the final is good for the health of British Judo.” Megan said: “I’m really pleased for Ben to have done so well at the weekend. He is showing consistently that he can produce medals at this level. He makes me a very proud sister!” In the same event, Matthew Purssey came away with a bronze medal at under 90 kgs.

In the women’s open, Megan was narrowly beaten to the gold by Maya Thoyer of France who scored a single yuko.

“I feel mixed emotions,” Fletcher said after the event. “I’m disappointed that I lost the final after I made a silly mistake which cost me a yuko.

“I never recovered, but it felt really good to come away with a silver, which is the next best thing to gold.” Meanwhile, back on the domestic front, Pinewood team mate Holly Eccles won bronze at under 48 kgs in the Somerset County Open event.

Three Pinewood juniors claimed medals in their first ever contest at High Wycombe on Sunday.

Benedict Carless rounded off the boys Under-12 (U12) years section with a first gold medal in the under 50 kgs weight group.

Newcomer Lois Kote won bronze at under 38 kgs alongside Daniel Franklin.

In the U16 year group, Caitlyn Clark was one of only two judoka fighting, winning silver at under 57 kgs. Joining her on the podium was under 34 kgs gold medallist Callum Jones.

There was further success for the lower grade juniors with Ruben Lord scooping gold at under 30 kgs alongside K-C Franklin (under 25 kgs) and Phoebe Deacon (under 36 kgs).

There were silver medals for Tobias Chapman (under 27 kgs), Jay Bennett (under 30 kgs) and Oliver Young (under 34 kgs), while Tobias Trafford (under 34 kgs) took a bronze medal.

l THIS weekend Pinewood Judo Club will be fighting in the Southend International Tournament.