There were very few newspaper reports of the 2006 European championships in Tampere, Finland, so we, stuck in the UK, could only scour the websites in the hope of catching some words or a picture to put some flesh on the bare bones of the results.

We knew (those of us with internet access) it was one of the best European championships in recent years, with two gold medals and two bronzes from the British team. But to find out what actually happened, we have had to wait until now, and the release of the Fighting Films record of the event. Actually, the FF team, led by Danny Hicks, has turned it around very quickly, for after all we are still waiting for the DVD of the world championships in Cairo where Craig Fallon took his world title. And I can report it is thrill after thrill.

You can see from the start that Fallon now has the confidence that befits his status. It is good to see that he backs it up with technique and fitness. His tomoe-nage throws are the result of deep penetration and serious control – neither Sulek (Poland) nor Cardoso (Portugal) could stop them. The win against Olympic Silver medallist Nestor Khergiani (Georgia) looks all the more impressive when you remember that he was Fallon’s downfall so often. In Tampere, a huge and decisive seoi-otoshi showed that Fallon is boss.

And this is where the DVD scores. You can revel in the replay of the throw. Just as exciting was the final against Armen Nazarayan (Armenia) and Fallon’s miraculous escape, from the hold and then the armlock. You know he won – but how on earth did he evade being caught on the ground? And produce a superb winning counter.

It is important to remember that you see the techniques so clearly from different angles because there is a judo brain behind the camera. Point and press is not enough. It is only too easy to think that digital technology has made the camera available to everyone equally. But these sequences show that the result is dependent upon the person holding it – the decades of Fighting Films experience shows why they are second to none.

And it is not just about being in the right place to catch the angle of the throw. It is the emotion too. Which is more satisfying – the grand osoto-gari from one of Sarah Clark’s semi-final, or the sense of achievement in her face as she settles down on the top rostrum to hear the British national anthem…with a momentary smile? Having just beaten Lucie Decosse, the French world champion, it was deserved!

The European championships is a three-day event, and this DVD is a little over an hour-and-a-half Yet the trick is to make it more than just a catalogue of ippons, grand though they may be. To be exciting, the story has to be told: champions built up only to fall to the up-and-coming…stylists to be taken out by the judo grunge…a rule explained to clarify a decision. There was Peter Cousins, the smallest in the -100kg category, having fought tenaciously to the bronze medal fight (and scoring a couple of spanking seoi-nage’s in the process), edging ahead of Makarau, the Belarussian Olympic champion, but seeing the medal almost slip through his fingers…momentary anguish for both players.

And there was Winston Gordon, so close so often to a medal in a major tournament. There were the customary poleaxing bear-hug kosoto-garis, a very technical turn, hold and armlock (the camera is there just where it should be); but will he get through to podium in the end? Well, we know the result, but the excitement – and the pleasure – is enhanced as we see how he does it, not lessened.

There is much else here: Alexei Budolin (Estonia) doing a massive pick-up, and knocking himself out in the process; classical osoto-garis by Benjamin Darbelet (France); a real whiplash tomoe-nage (reminiscent of Karen Briggs) by Barbara Harel of France and many others – too many to mention.

Britain came third only to France and Russia in the final medal table, and that alone dictates that this DVD should be on the shelf, to be watched and enjoyed, and to inspire before another trip to the club.

AND it is good to see that Fighting Films has commissioned new music!