AUSTRIA has been a happy hunting ground this summer for judo and athletics star Jenny Earle.

The 45-year old, who took the silver medal in last year's world masters judo championships in Tokyo, has just returned from Vienna, where she went one better by winning the gold medal.

In addition to her under-79kg world crown, she also won a silver medal in the open class.

Her triumph came hot on the heels of a four-gold haul at the European Throws Cup in Wells in Austria.

In her third year of a judo comeback, reigning British champion Earle represented Great Britain in Vienna.

In the F4 age group, she won all five of her contests by maximum points.

Her semi-final was against Diane Hardy from Canada and the Basingstoke Sports Centre duty manager managed to throw her for ippon (maximum points) with the taniotoshi technique.

In the final, third dan Earle came up against Dale Keogh from Australia, who holds the grade of sixth dan and was the favourite to win.

The contest lasted just 15 seconds, however, as Earle threw her for ippon with uchimata.

In the open event, where there are no weight categories, Earle was by far the lightest player in the draw.

Undeterred, she threw the 90kg Italian Caterina Boldrini for ippon with uchimata and then went on to hold down and armlock the 130kg German Gabbi Nuremburger to take a place in the final.

There she came up against another German, Astrid Gerhardt, who was in the under-110kg category.

Earle managed to throw her for a five-point score but was unable to hold off a strong opponent on the ground and was caught in a hold-down as the German won gold.

Earle was nevertheless delighted with her second medal of the championships.