Harlow Age Banded Competition

Saturday see our younger players competing in an age banded competition at Sumners Sport Centre in Harlow.
The groups were under 8 year olds, Red Belts and yellow belt groups. For all but 1 yellow belt player it was their first taste of competition judo and for the 4 players in the under 8 section proved to be a great day for Ford. All 4 players were only aged 6 and had only been practicing for several weeks but there joy and enthusiasm shone through as 3 of them won gold medals and one obtained silver and that was because 2 Ford players had to compete against each other, so a great day for them.

Under 8's
Issac Monsegue Gold
Samual Woodgate Gold
Sophie Pinkney Gold
Michael Turner Silver

In the red belt section see great efforts from each Ford player, although it is classed as beginners, some taking part could have been doing judo a few years, most players do not grade until they are 8, but we choose this well established competition to teeth our players teeth on. I was very pleased with their performances, giving the more experienced opponents a good fight and winning over the players that were more on their level.

Red Belts
Vitaly Silver
Billie Sampson Bronze
Jamie Sampson Bronze
Luke Pinkney Bronze
Harry Johnson Bronze

Some well seasoned players in the yellow belt section and some great action, James was one of the smaller players in his group but fought with heart and soul. Each fight was very close and could of gone either way, a good result for James as he has been of the mat a few months.
It has come to light that James had fought on with a dislocated shoulder, which he did in his first fight, what a trooper.

Yellow Belt
James Cliff Bronze

It is great to see the younster on the first rung of the ladder in following their older club mates in to competitive judo and bodes well with the clubs future withing the National Squad set up. Each and every one of them showed promising signs and especially Issac Monsegue winning 2 of his fights with perfect 10 point wins.

Bill...