The Ultimate Open event attracted a capacity entry of competitors from across both Scotland and northern England and the Destination Judo squad needed to be at their best to reach the podium.

The first gold medal of the day was won by 10-year-old Angus Marsh in the A band (under-13) boys’ under-27 kilo class, with the Donibristle Primary School pupil holding down his opponent for ippon in each of his three fights to claim the gold medal and the maximum 60 Grand Prix points on offer.

Although a regular medallist over the past two years in Scottish Grand Prix events, this was the first time that Marsh had made the top step of the podium, a result which augurs well for the rest of a gruelling season which will culminate in the Scottish Age Band Championships in November.

Fourteen-year-old Fiona Todman also won gold in her category, the cadet (under-18) girls’ under-48 kilo class.

The Queen Anne High pupil also showed her prowess in newaza (groundwork), holding down Imogen Walls, of Sportif JC, in her first contest and then pinning the reigning British under-40kg champion (Rachel Towle, of Clyde JC) to the mat in her second fight. An o goshi throw for ippon against Invergordon JC’s Nellie Wilson, another British medallist, wrapped up a most impressive afternoon’s work for Todman, who was rewarded with a well-deserved gold medal.

The third Destination JC gold medallist was Emma Forrest, who was equally dominant in the pre-cadet (under-15) girls’ under-48kg category. The Dunfermline High pupil had already won three bronze medals on the UK stage this season and added the Ultimate title to her recent impressive record with three ippon wins. Victories within the distance over Elgin JC’s Megan Edwards and long-term rival Sophie Knox, of invergordon JC, followed an ura nage win over clubmate Caitlin Arnold, who took the bronze medal in a competitive first appearance in the under-15 ranks.

Double Scottish champions Ryan Turnbull and Kirsty Marsh could have added to the gold rush but both had to be content with silver medals on this occasion.

Turnbull won his first two contests in the cadet boys’ under-66kg category against Quinn Delves, of Highland Budokan, and Adam Law, of Yama Arashi JC, with relative ease but an early lapse in his final bout was punished by Stephen Ross, of Southside JC, who himself claimed the top spot.

Marsh failed to convert an early armlock on GB squad member Laura Hewitt, of Clyde JC, into a submission and ultimately lost the fight by wazari, meaning that her ippon hold-down wins over English competitors Eleanor Sharp and Katie Purvis left her also in second spot.