MATTHEW Beard is a Southern Area senior champion at the age of 16 despite giving away up to one-and-a-half stone and six inches.

The Joff club ace from Seaford won the gold medal in the open kyu grade event at Crystal Palace.

Lewes Tertiary College pupil Beard's sparkling debut came after being dumped from the national junior squad.

The Sussex champion won a bronze at last year's National Cadet Championship and represented England in Holland in March and June this year before it went wrong.

But now he is back to his best.

He said: "It's great to bounce back.

"It was disappointing to be dropped from the national squad but I was feeling the effects of flu at the trials, although I must admit I hadn't been on my best form because I had exam stress!

"Yet I feel I am now on top form again because I'm stress free. The gold medal was a brilliant bonus.

"But it wasn't easy. I was just half a kilo over my usual fighting weight of 73 kilos so I was put up into the open category.

"I was up against some pretty big, full-grown men; some were 22lb heavier and six inches taller.

"I felt I was able to beat them because although they were much stronger than me they were also a little slower.

"I've been training with the senior members at my club and getting some experience of senior competition .

"So it meant I had a handle on how to fight these guys. I'm delighted."

It follows up a gold medal Beard won the under-73 kilo event at the recent Sussex Blue Belt and Under Senior Championships at Worthing.

And he was aiming for a hat-trick today at the Bexley Senior Open.

He said: "I want to prove my couple of wins are no fluke.

"Then I want to aim for the national senior championships. Hopefully the Southern Area win will seal me a place."

Peacehaven's Joff also produced a champion in the junior event for orange belts and under belts and under.

Dean Whittle, 14, won the under-59 kilo event.

His Longhill schoolmate Shaun Mason, 13, another Joff member, secured bronze at under-38 kilos.

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