THE annual Hurstmere School Sport Partnership judo festival was held at Dartford Judo Club, the home of British Judo’s Performance Institute and an official 2012 training venue.

More than 130 primary school children from eight schools within the partnership took part in an afternoon of judo with an Olympic theme.

The eight schools were Old Bexley, Pelham, Fosters, Longlands, Birkbeck, Days Lane, Hillsgrove and East Wickham.

Children were divided into four teams visiting Olympic cities and learnt a different judo skill from qualified coaches at each one.

Among those who helped with the coaching was Gemma Gibbons, a former Westwood College (now Harris Academy Falcon Wood) pupil, and full-time judo player based at the Performance Institute in Dartford.

The afternoon came to an end with two displays of judo.

First up were two young men Tom Williams, who had just returned from the junior European championships in Bulgaria and Dru Oaks, who both put on a dynamic display of judo which the children thoroughly enjoyed.

Youngsters were then treated to a display by Athens Olympian and double European silver medalist Sophie Cox, who has just returned to the sport after a five year absence with her eyes set on a place at the London Olympics.

Cox and her partner Yuko Nakano delivered a stunning display of fast moving and skillful judo which captivated the young audience.