Twin sisters Helen and Kathryn Cartwright produced a faultless display to strike gold at the 9th Tours Open Kata International in France on Saturday.

The long-time standouts defeated the continents top kata exponents as the prestigious event attracted athletes from nations including Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.

Some 79 couples took part in the 6 Kodokan Kata categories of Nage no kata, Kime no kata, Katame no kata, Kodokan Goshin Jutsu and Koshiki no kata.

There were sixteen couples entered in the Ju no kata competition and at the end of the preliminary round Helen and Kathryn were in second place, however in the finals against five French couples they improved their position to take the gold medal.

Dennis Penfold, who was one of the invited International Judges, said: “The French competitors are making great strides in Kata with the standard of their competitors rising each year. In my opinion in a few years they will overtake Italy and Spain as one of the top competing nations in Kata.”

Under the guidance of the BJA National Kata Commission Croydon Judo Club will be hosting this year’s Southern Area Kata Competition to be held on 19th May 2012 and it is hoped that players, both juniors and seniors whatever their current experience will take part in what could be the first step on the ladder to international Kata competition.