A Band Nationals

A busy weekend for Pinewood Judo Club saw judoka of all ages and grades fighting across the country in four events….

 

 

Four of Pinewood’s young judoka travelled last Sunday to Kidderminster to compete in the 10 & 11 Year olds National Open competition.

 

Noah Jones put together a string of capable wins demonstrating great judo and a good level of concentration that took him into the final. He opened his account in the same determined fashion taking an early lead with a great throw. A lack of tactical awareness unfortunately meant that he continued the pressure that he had applied all day and a slip left him held down for a Silver medal. The Coach in the other chair showed great judo spirit by explaining to Noah that he had been unlucky against his judoka and that he had demonstrated better judo. Noah showed solid improvements in his judo and attitude and Mark Fricker believes he has a great deal of potential for the future.

 

Terri Gough at only her first Nationals showed her usual determination and ferocity.

Only her lack of experience caused her to squander an early Wazari lead that would have seen her into a Silver Medal position and she was forced to settle for Bronze.

 

Olly Young after a great start in his first two fights with an enormous throw that had to be the most spectacular throw of the day.

 

A peculiar refereeing decision left poor Olly out in the cold as his opponent then lost his next fight. 

 

Dan Franklin made a good start winning his first fight then hit problems with his next two that cost him a chance of moving into the knockout stage. With nothing to lose in his last fight he took the opportunity to demonstrate that he is capable of taking coaching advice. Within seconds of taking a commanding grip he moved and attacked his opponent with a flurry of combinations that set up a very satisfying ten point throw.

 

 

A large group of Masters or wrinklies as Don Werner preferred to call them, were competing in their various age and weight bands in the Nationals last weekend. Between them they gathered the biggest haul of medals ever at this event with Gold Medals from Bob Smith, Paul Knight, Phil Thorne  and Nigel Holloway.

 

Silver from David Rance and Bronzes from  Martin Rance and Stuart Cook.

 

Both Martin Rance and Paul Knight entered the 3rd Dan and 4th Dan Open weight categories where Martin took a creditable Silver and Paul a Bronze.

 

4 Golds and National Champions,  2 Silvers and 3 Bronzes was a fantastic result! 

 

 

Our younger judoka were flying the flag under the careful eye of Coach Geoff Torrington  at the Mini Mon Competition in High Wycombe and they came away with another hat full of medals as below:-

 

 

AJA Nationals for 13 to 15 year olds in Birmingham 19th October

 

Seasoned campaigner Declan Whyte made a long solo trip to Birmingham on Sunday to compete in the AJA Nationals and came back a champion with a Gold medal!

 

In all a memorable Pinewood weekend.

 

 

Mark Fricker

 

UKCC Level 2 Coach  BJA Reg. 4th Dan