On Saturday last weekend 2 Pinewood fighters Crissie Webb and Kiera Bateman traveled to Antwerp to take part in the Ippon Trophy Competition.
This is a very tough competition with some high quality opposition that was always one of our late Sensei Don Werner’s favourites.
Crissie Webb was there with the aim of gaining experience since she is young for the category in which she competes.
As a junior green belt she faced a 1st Dan, a 2nd Dan and a 1st Kyu (brown belt) in her pool. Unfazed by the task ahead she set to work fighting bravely to defeat the 1st Dan and gaining useful experience as she lost her next 2 contests.
Kiera Bateman at U48kg .left a trail of broken dreams in her wake as she defeated German Dutch and Belgian competitors, in great style with a maximum 10 point score in every fight, including the final. Her mix of ferocious strangles armlocks and hold downs is lately strengthened by her increasing capability to throw. Coach Mark Fricker is quite pleased with her progress and considers her to be on track for future international success.
On Sunday at High Wycombe a large group of Pinewood juniors were competing in the 61 Club Green Belt and under competition.
Golds were taken by:-
Lottie Strickland U27 and Bella Holeman U32 who both produced some great judo in only their 2nd competitions,
Callum Jones U42 also had a great day,
Terri Gough U44 managed to throw off her nerves and produce one of her best performances to date,
Louie Regan U46 underlining his consistency over the last few contests,
and the last Gold went to Caitlyn Clark U52 who also threw off the nerves that are usual as competitors gain competition experience.,
Silvers were won by:-
Ruben Lord U31 ,
Oliver Young U34
Phoebe Deacon U36 who very looked determined as she fought her way to the final,.
Hogan Whiteley U42 who only lost the final to a teammate (a fantastic result in only his first open competition).
Declan Whyte U42 (group C)
Bronze medals were won by:-
Tobias Chapman U27 and James Ferre U50.
Mr Werner would no doubt have been moderately pleased!