THERE are sporting dreams which represent the pinnacle of achievement.

s A batsman rapping out a century at Lord's.

s A boxer hoisting a world championship belt above his head at Madison Square Garden.

s A footballer striking the winning goal at Wembley, before the bulldozers moved in, naturally.

For any judo devotee then, the zenith of endeavour is to compete in Japan, spiritual home of the martial arts.

Two years after hurling himself into the competitive wilderness Rob Thomas - York's one-time Great Britain top-ranked judo heavyweight - is chasing that dream.

The newly-formed Masters Judo circuit, which thumped into existence in Canada eight months ago, will next year descend upon Japan. York's judo king aims to be there.

At an age when perhaps a bathrobe is more suitable attire than the traditional white judogi uniform, Thomas is again pounding a punishing training regime.

But all the thud, sweat and tears is worth the effort. For the 37-year-old black belt is positively glowing to the prospect of collisions in the land of the rising sun.

Enthused Thomas: "To anyone who practises judo the holy grail is to fight in Japan. That's where it all began.

"I thought my chances of competing there in a major games had gone. At my age I thought it was all over. But now the opportunity of going to Japan could be back in my hands."

The rebirth of Thomas' competitive yen for a sport to which he has dedicated almost two decades of his life, sprung from a chance encounter last year at an event in which he ferried some of the juniors he coaches at Stamford Bridge Judo Club.

Terry Altoft, the respected mentor of former world women's world judo champion Sharon Rendall, collared Thomas. A gentle rebuke was followed by a reawakening of zeal.

Recalled Thomas: "He told me that I had been far too young to retire. Then he mentioned about the new Masters competition.

"It was held in Canada last year. It's being staged in Ireland this summer and next year it's in Japan. That got me going."

His zest to be among the best re-kindled, Thomas - pictured tangling with training partner Dylan Morgan - is now honing his reflexes, stamina and strength for the upcoming Masters event in Ireland at the end of June when he will compete in the 35-40 age group in the over-100 kilogrammes weight division.

His bid has been aided by free membership to Emperor's Health and Fitness Centre in York's Skeldergate.

"It means I can go there when I want, as long as I want, and as often as I want. They've been brilliant to me," enthused the man, who competed at international level for ten years.

His gruelling training regime has also taken him to the respective judo clubs of Ryedale, Scarborough and Rowntrees, as well as Stamford Bridge, where he has taught youngsters for the last four years.

Just last year at an exhibition he sampled the distinction of battling against white-clad warriors from Japan when a party of judo experts visited York.

"I wondered whether I might have lost my form completely. But I held my own against these guys, who fought each other for the right to fight me," said Thomas, whose four children - Rebecca (15), Ross (11), Ryan (10) and Robbie (8) - have all taken up the sport.

"First it's Ireland, and then hopefully Japan next year, though it could cost a lot of money," he said.

"But to finish off my career competing in Japan would be a dream come true. It would be a fantastic way to bow out of the sport."

Updated: 10:50 Saturday, February 16, 2002