Dartmouth Academy's Year 7 student Oliver Smith found out the hard way what is needed to get into the England Youth Judo squad.

He was denied the gold medal at The Peter Murphy Western Area Closed Judo competition on Sunday, May 19, at Kingsbridge's Quayside Leisure Centre.  

The competition is an annual event and is open only to the Counties that make up the British Judo Association Western Area.  

Competitors travel from as far apart as Gloucestershire, Dorset and Cornwall.

Oliver comfortably despatched all bar one of his opponents with Ippon, in Judo terms a knockout, but was undone by one of the fighters from Gloucester, who is in the England Youth Judo squad.  

Oliver lost his fight by Ippon in the dying moments of the bout but was very pleased that he'd stood toe-to-toe with his illustrious opponent despite conceding six inches in height, making his opponent work very hard for his undeniably deserved gold medal.

Winning the silver medal was for Oliver a fantastic achievement as the standard at the competition had the bar raised very high.

Oliver fights in the under-16 category which for a 12-year-old can be a daunting experience, often squaring up against opponents who are older, stronger and more experienced.

At Sunday's Peter Murphy competition, Oliver managed to despatch two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old, which is no mean feat given the difference in stature between Oliver and his opponents.

Oliver's dad Nick Smith said: 'Oliver fought really well but had a David and Goliath scenario with the gold medal winner.  

'Getting a silver medal at such a high standard event should not be underestimated given that Oliver was by far the youngest and lowest grade in his under-16 grouping. That tells you something.'  

Oliver also brought further success to his judo club Ronindo Budo Qai which is based in Torbay and headed up by Head Coach Ray Brown.  Ray instils technique rather than brute force or must win at all costs into the fighters that he trains.  

This is why Oliver is able to overwhelm his comparatively larger opponents by turning opponent's strengths against them and this will hold Oliver in good stead as he develops his judo through his teenage years.

Ronindo Budo Qai has weekly training sessions in Dartmouth, Totnes and Paignton.