Smith battles to best ever victory (From Bucks Free Press)

Micklefield Judo star wins national title

10:56am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Sport By Alan Feldberg

AMBER Smith won the biggest title of her life on Saturday when she was crowned British Schools Judo Champion in Sheffield.

The Sir William Ramsay pupil won the year ten and 11 section to end a sequence of near misses at the major tournaments.

Her coach Ian Lane said: “She puts a lot of effort in but seems to be somebody that just misses out at the bigger events.

“But this time she got it right. It’s the best I’ve seen her fight and she deserved it. Nobody got close to her.”

Smith, from Micklefield Judo Club, won all three of her fights by the maximum ten points to reach the semi-finals, and then booked her place in the final with a nine-second victory in the last four.

Her final opponent had also won four out of four, but Smith dominated from the outset and was comfortably on top when her opponent was disqualified for an illegal move.

Lane said: “Amber was winning quite easily. I think it was just desperation more than anything.”

Smith, who won silver at these championships last year, will now train with GB squad with a view to earning a place in the team.