Wilrijk Open - Belgium / Swedish Youth / British Open

On the last weekend of April the Pinewood Judo Club fought in the Wilrijk Open near Antwerp, Belgium. Pinewood has attended the event for 23 years, winning the overall winner’s trophy on 21 occasions. The tournament is well attended by strong fighters from many Countries. This year it was a great treat to have the Czech Republic’s under 23 years national squad in attendance. The total entry was 40% up on last year.

It has become a tradition in the club to do well at the event, so club coach, Don Werner, always tries to put out strong junior and senior squads. The Pinewood members always respond superbly, showing excellent club spirit. This could be due to the fact that almost all of them started at Pinewood at a very early age.

The organisers present, on each day, a trophy for the top Belgium club and one for the top foreign club. On Saturday Pinewood won the top foreigner’s cup with medals from, Dominic Naylor gold under 38 kgs, Paige Brazier bronze under 40 kgs, Annabelle Ryan Hooper gold under 44 kgs, Charlie Davis bronze under 46 kgs, Ben Fletcher gold under 73 kgs, Charlotte Mansfield silver in the open weight group.

It was a double final for the club and the Pang family when at under 52 kgs Sarah Pang won gold and Sophie Pang took silver.

On Sunday it was senior day and the Pinewood fighters again won the top foreigner’s cup.

The first medals came from another double final when at under 60 kgs Graham Trinder won gold and Liam Franklin took silver. Charlotte Farbon had one her best days to win the gold in the under 48 kgs weight group; Charlotte threw for clean ippon in the final fight.

The brothers Purssey were in incredible form, Matthew won gold at under 81 kgs and Jonathan won gold at under 90 kgs. Adam Castle was in the lead in the other 90 kgs semi final and looked like meeting Jonathan in the final. Unfortunately, in the middle of a flurry of attacks Adam landed on his arm dislocating the elbow and was unable to continue.

This was a cloud on an exceptionally successful weekend, but Adam was well looked after at the Sint Augustinus hospital and coach Don Werner was able to bring him home on Monday; it is pleasing to note he is making a good recovery.

Next year this event will be moving to another venue and the format slightly altered. So it was great for the club to win the last Wilrijk Open at the Sporthal on Koningin Elisabethstraat, where they had spent so many hours.

Last weekend Liam Franklin won a bronze medal at under 60 kgs in the Swedish youth tournament and Matthew Purssey, who at present trains in Scotland, fought superbly in the British Open at the K2 Sports at Centre Crawley, to win the gold medal at under 81 kgs.