Eastleigh Aikido Club members (pictured) entered the recently held BAA British Open Championships at High Wycombe Judo Centre, Bucks.

This was the penultimate competition before the club leaves for America and the World Championships in August. Nearly 40 competitors from six of the UK's top clubs entered into the competition.

In the individual Tanto events Marco Crispini won the Men's with Kirsty Barnes getting bronze in the Women's. The five-man team Tanto was hotly contested this year with the Eastleigh team of John Carpenter, Marco Crispini, Jamie Bird, Jamie Roberts and Gareth Bottomley winning gold. Nicole Anson, Marco Crispini and Kirsty Barnes entered the mixed team Tanto and won silver.

Eastleigh had a clean sweep in the Dai San Kata event where Kirsty Barnes and Marco Crispini won gold, Nicole Anson and Alex Guerandel won silver and Jamie Roberts and Sarah Fletcher won bronze.

With three gold medals, three silver and one bronze this was the club's biggest success this year and put them second place in the club rankings for the competition against Tatsumaki Aikido (Leeds) who entered 20 competitors compared to Eastleigh's seven.

This was also Kirsty Barnes' first competition as a black belt which she achieved in May at the BAA Spring Training School in Pensilva, Cornwall. To learn more about Aikido in your area contact John Carpenter on 07830 040625 or email aiki@mail.com