A PAIR of jiu jitsu brothers from East Lothian returned from the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Junior and Juvenile National Championships as national champions. . . for the third year running.

Eight-year-old Duncan Anderson and his brother Oliver, 10, produced superb performances to win their respective events.

Duncan won his bout by submission, while Oliver was awarded victory on a referee’s decision as they claimed titles at the event in Walsall for the third year in a row.

There was to be no golden success for a third Anderson boy, 12-year-old Rory, who was beaten by the reigning world champion in his quarter-final.

Nevertheless, he returned to East Lothian with a well-earned bronze medal after the competition on Sunday.

And the boys’ mum, Moya Anderson, told Courier Sport: “It was really great to watch the boys pull out all the stops to do the best that they could in the UK’s biggest event.

“It’s great to watch the development of the boys on and off the mats.

“They work hard in the gym and it’s fantastic for them to reap the rewards at competitions.”

And she sung the praise of coach Thiago Ferreria, who runs TF Fitness from Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Moya added: “Their achievements this weekend as part of the overall team of 11 children aged eight to 16 was fantastic.

“It made a 700-mile round trip more than worthwhile, as each team member competing brought home medals.”

Ferreria, in a post on Facebook, described the club’s medal haul as “mission accomplished”.

The county trio, who took up the sport in May 2015, will now set their sights on a rare chance to compete on home soil.

Duncan, Oliver and Rory are due to enter the Rickson Gracie Open in Glasgow at the beginning of July.

Moya added: “There are very few kids events in Scotland so the boys are delighted to be competing on home turf.”