Maidstone enjoy brilliant start

Roller hockey

Maidstone Roller Hockey Club’s senior team made a flying start to the Kent League season on Saturday. They won a fast-paced match at Herne Bay 3- 0 with goals from Rui Borges, Dan Ottway and Nuno Santos-Lopes. The side included 15-year-old youth-team players Lewis King and Mia Bealing-Rodrigues. Maidstone chairman Cheryl Bealing said: “It was a great start to the season and I’m proud of our younger players’ part in the team. “We scored three superb goals against a strong Herne Bay team. It was an exciting match to watch.” Students from Kimura Shukokai Karate Kent returned from the European Open in Estonia with nine medals.

Finley Lodge, 13, made up for his injury disappointment at last year’s World Championship by winning the boys’ kumite. He then linked up with David Pereira and Eloise Moliner to land gold in the cadets team kata.

Debra Scamp, William Howell and Kacper Krzykowski joined their clubmates on the podium, claiming bronze.

Moliner also took a hard-earned silver in the individual kumite, with Scamp and Howell taking bronze.

In the adult events, Steve Pereira added European glory to his world title with a tactical masterclass against his Finnish opponent in the over-50s kumite final.

Sensei Katie Simpson took bronze in the ladies’ kumite and silver in the kata.

Chief instructor Chris Simpson, who runs classes at Kingswood, Lenham, Downswood, Marden and Maidstone YMCA, said: “All these students have sacrificed a lot over the last 12 months to concentrate on their training and we and everyone at the club are proud of