VI IBSA World Games silver medallist Lesley Reid will lead an Eastern Area squad training session at Thetford Leisure Centre on Sunday 29 May.

Reid, 49, who was discovered in a 2009 talent search, took bronze at the VI World Championships in her first British selection last year and took silver at the IBSA World Games in April after giving up to 45 kilos to her heavyweight rival in the final.

David Oates, Eastern Area squad coach, said: “We are very pleased to have secured the services of Lesley Reid at the next Eastern Area Squad training session.

“Since being tasked with the job of running an Eastern Area squad myself and Mark Purllant have been keen to develop a rich and diverse training programme that supports players in the area and enhances their knowledge of judo.”

In 2010 the Eastern Area hosted highly-successful masterclass sessions with former world champion Craig Fallon and Hungary’s former world bronze medallist Bernadette Bazcko.

“We have set our sights on utilising British internationals who are part of the Eastern Area talent pool to prove to our young judoka that they can represent their country at the highest level.

“My brother Colin Oates was supported financially by the Eastern Area and has led numerous training sessions for the squad. This is why we delighted to see him succeed at the European Championships in April where he achieved a career-best bronze medal. It is important for the young players to feel that they have in some way contributed to that success.

“So far we have attracted turnouts of around 40 junior players at our sessions and we are pleased with the numbers as our clubs are spread over a vast area which can hinder our planning.

“The overall training programme and design is being managed by myself and Mark and at the present time we have just come out of a trial period where we have been identifying issues and trying to come up with solutions. Over the next few months we are hoping to really move forward and start to see some of our regular supporters getting results at major events.

“Most recently it was nice to see a number of players who have been supporting our sessions come away with medals at the British Schools Championships and Peterborough Open. The build up now will be focused on the British Championships at the end of the year where we are hoping to provide both financial support to a newly-developed Eastern Area Squad and also coaching support both before and during the event.”