MARIE-ANNETTE Vidot and reigning judoka of the year Gerard Baker reigned supreme for the second time this season after winning the women's and men's Open categories of last Saturday's Federation Shield competition at the Omnisports Gym, Roche Caïman.

Vidot, who has represented Seychelles in big international competitions like the Fifth Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) in 1998 in Reunion and the Seventh All-Africa Games in 1999 in South Africa, showed her prowess with three victories in as many fights in the Open competition

Winner of this year's Curtain-raiser competition as she made a successful comeback to the sport, the 24-year-old got wins over runner-up Sandra Mathiot, third finisher Karell Ramkalawan and fourth placed Sharon Zoé who retired with an injury.

Vidot, who only returned to competition earlier this year after a one-and-a-half year lay-off, also won the women's senior division in front of Mathiot, Zoé and Ramkalawan.

"I am happy with the wins and I feel that I am getting back to my best after the long lay-off," she said.

In the men's Open category, Gerard Baker, winner of the -81kg category over Michael César, had the better of Francis Labrosse, a Seychellois Olympian at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in a tense final between probably the country's two best technicians in the sport.

Baker, who beat the heavier Ralph Souffle in the Open Curtain-raiser final earlier this year, finished with two yukos (5 points each) to overcome the lighter Francis Labrosse who garnered just one yuko (5 points) after five minutes of intense fighting.

"Performance-wise it was not a good competition for me because I had a fever. But all the same, I am happy with my results," said the 23-year-old who like Vidot has competed in the Fifth Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) in 1998 in Reunion and the Seventh All-Africa Games in 1999 in South Africa.

Labrosse, who along with Baker, Kevin Florentine and Ralph Souffle are to participate in two international competitions – Guido Siena and Tretoni –  in Italy at the end of May and early June, won the -60kg category.

Robert Valmont was first in the -66kg division, Nigel Barbé first in the -73kg division while Ravi Valmont dominated the -90kg class.