British Cadet Trials / British University Championships / Ipswich Senior Open / Clacton Age Banded

The Pinewood Judo Club’s members were spread around the Country last weekend. On Saturday the British cadet trials were held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Ben Fletcher won first place in the under 73 kgs weight group and Sarah Pang took first place at under 52 kgs. This should secure them a place in the British cadet squad for the European Cadet Championships to be held soon, in Bosnia. Sophie Pang finished in third place, a good result because she has only recently moved up to the 52 kgs weight group.

Also held in Sheffield, at the ice rink, was the British University Championships. Sian Fairbrother fought superbly to win the gold medal at under 57 kgs and Megan Fletcher had a particularly good day, winning silver at under 70 kgs.

On Sunday, in the Ipswich senior and veterans championships, in the veteran section Rob Smith won gold at under 60 kgs. He damaged his shoulder in the first contest but managed quite well, fighting the rest of the time left handed. David Johnston did very well to win gold at under 66 kgs and silver in the open weight section.

The juniors were out in force at the Clacton grade and age banded Championships. The Pinewood children brought home 14 gold, 9 silver and 10 bronze medals. Although the event lacked numbers in some groups it was well run and worth the trip.

In the under 12 years group for red belt fighters gold medals were won for Pinewood by Sam Blair, Christian Tepper, Holy Eccles, Yolande Andrews, Leah Blair, Anastasia Andrews and Sophie Tepper.

Silver medals in this group were won by Myles Trainor, Stuart Gainsford and Phoebe Augier.

Bronze medals went to Samuel Cowdrey, who fought very well because he only just failed to reach the final and Rebekah Brown.

Emma Pang won gold and Jenny Roberts bronze in the under 12 years yellow to green belt section; these were the only two from the club fighting in the group.

In the 12 to under 16 years group up to green belt gold medals were won by Dominic Naylor, Charlie Davis, Sam Trafford, Paige Brazier and Nicole Brown.

Silver went to Joshua Trafford, James Derlacki, Elliot Trainor, Bradley Pimley and Emily Harper.  

Bronze medals were won by Ben Roberts, George Wyke, Ben Jones, Dominique Brown, Jasmine Crean and Dominique also won another bronze in the open weight group.

In the any grade under 16 years group the club only had three fighters involved, Alexander Wallace fought superbly to win silver under 55 kgs, Matthew Sallis took bronze under 60 kgs and Charlotte Mansfield did very well to win gold in the open weight group. This rounded off a very good weekend of tournaments for the Pinewood club.