Almelo, Holland / Red Belt Rumble

Last Saturday the Pinewood judo Club was fighting at the J.P.T. International Championship at Almelo in Holland. The club won a creditable 3 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze trophies. The event was very well attended by other Countries. Pinewood and the Shiro Kwaido Judo Club from the Bristol area were the only two British clubs fighting; this means plenty of experience against foreign fighters at all weights.  

The first off the mark were the under 38 kgs weight group, Dominic Naylor won gold in a most convincing manner while George Wyke and Ben Roberts took both of the bronze trophies. This is a good result because it shows the club has strength in depth.

Alexander Wallace fought well to win silver at under 55 kgs and Ben Fletcher produced superb form to win gold at under 73 kgs. Liam Franklin was also in brilliant fighting mode, he won gold at under 60 kgs, against a large group of gifted Judoka.

The girls had a good day, at under 32 kgs Emma Pang won silver and Paige Brazier also won silver at under 40 kgs. Both groups were well attended and they were filled with strong talented fighters.

In the under 52 kgs weight group Sarah Pang won silver and her sister Sophie Pang took the bronze. Victoria Pang had an outstanding day in the under 70 kgs weight group, she won silver against some very well known fighters.

Some of the squad stayed over for a short break with their parents but the rest of the families made the trip back with coach Don Werner that evening. He had to look after the lower grade juniors fighting at High Wycombe in the red belt rumble on Easter Sunday.

The red belts forsook their Easter eggs for a while to do their bit towards the Club’s medal tally by winning 9 gold and 4 silver and 1 bronze medal.

First weight off was the boy’s under 25 kgs group, Daniel King won gold and James Widman took silver. Christian Tepper won gold at under 27 kgs and Myles Trainor also fought superbly to win gold at under 34 kgs.

The girls were in excellent form Holly Eccles won silver at under 26 kgs and Yolande Andrews took gold in the under 28 kgs weight group.

Kiera Bateman won gold at under 32 kgs and Kymran Shergill won bronze in her first ever competition. Phoebe Augier won gold and Rebekah Brown silver at under 36 kgs then Leah Blair won gold at under 34 kgs.