DARTFORD Judo Club's Ben Quilter finally realised his Olympic dream when he was officially selected for Team GB to compete at the Beijing Paralympics 2008.

The medal hopeful joined other athletes in London for the announcement, which came shortly after Quilter celebrated silver medal success at the visually impaired German Open in Aschaftenburg.

London 2012 hopeful Francesca Steggall is also moving closer to her Olympic dream following a determined effort at the British Open judo championships.

Despite her young age in the popular international event, debutant Steggall narrowly missed the podium by finishing just outside the medals in fifth place.

Cema Suleyman is another Dartford JC member to have enjoyed a successful month. Suleyman has only been competing outside the club for the last two months and has already collected three medals.

The 13-year-old claimed gold at the Tonbridge Open championships and silver at the Kent closed trials and for representing Kent in the southern area inter-counties team. Fellow club member Heather Stewart also competed in the silver medal winning Kent team following her gold medal success at the trials.

Twins Jessica and Louise Foard gave Dartford a competitively charged final at the Clacton Open championships.

Both girls had fought well enough to reach the final, but in the same weight.

After a well matched final, Jessica emerged the victor with Louise claiming the silver.

Dartford club members have also enjoyed success overseas after bringing home several medals from Aggrolex Trofee Lommel, Belgium.

Ryan Cottom secured gold in the Juniors, a competition which develops young judokas for the European cadet level.

Youth players also fought well with cadets Amelia Cook taking gold with ease in the under-40kg, while Michael Stewart (under-55kg) and Shane Tyler (over-66kg) both secured bronzes.

Craig Holmes was in action as a member of GB squad at the Budo Nord Cup and Lugi judo camp held in Sweden.

The event attracted more than 500 competitors from most European nations.

Holmes fought well in the under-90kg category with several wins before claiming bronze at the event.

He was joined by fellow Dartford members Casey Belsey and Taylor Bell in representing Great Britain at the Bremmen masters international championships in Germany.

The event had more than 1,000 competitors from 27 countries including Japan, Georgia, Canada and Korea.

It proved to be a tough but valuable experience for all with Bell managing four wins before being knocked out just before the medal stage of his weight group of 83 entrants.

Bell continued the good form back home to win a bronze medal at the Peterborough youth open judo event.

Dartford's John Robbins was also successful at the Ipswich age banded championships.

Robbins, with only a few competitions under his belt, defeated some tough opponents to win bronze in the under-50kg 12 to 16 age group.