NEWS

SHUDAN JUDO

KETTERING PREMIER JUDO CLUB

 

Samurai Midlands Inter-County Team Competition Report 22nd April 2006

Report By Richard Hull Kettering Premier Judo Club

Northamptonshire had a very successful tournament at the Midlands Inter-County Judo Championships.

 

The Samurai Midlands Inter-County Team Competition is a unique event, where the Counties of the Midland Area are invited to enter 5 man or woman teams to compete.  To win each match the teams must win more fights than their opponents.  Players only fight other players of the same weight. This year, Northamptonshire entered a massive squad of nearly 50 players, who collected nearly 40 medals in the various categories.

 

The Girls Light Weight team of Becky Moore, Jodie Caller, Hannah Shelford, Alison Roughton and Rhiannon Petts, had the best start possible with a 5-0 win against Herefordshire.  This was followed with a heavy defeat to Leicestershire, 1-4.  Their final Match against Worcestershire was for the silver medal and the girls dug deep to secure victory after a closely fought 3-2 win.

 

The Boys Light Weight ‘A’ Team of, Matthew Johns, Jake Simons, James Jane, Jamie Caller and Lucas Rowe, also started brightly with a 4-1 win against Derbyshire.  The boys then defeated the Leicestershire ‘B’ by the same margin, before a complete rout of Worcestershire with a 5-0 win.  This meant the boys progressed to the semi final and a match against Nottinghamshire.  The Northants boys were again victorious and marched on to a Final against Leicestershire ‘A’ and the chance to defend the title the team won last year.  This proved to be the closest match of the day with Johns losing the opener before Simons steadied the ship to bring the score back to 1-1.  Jane lost his fight, but Caller produced the throw of the day to win his fight and set up a climatic final fight.  With the score at 2 wins each Rowe entered the cauldron but despite one of the most gallant efforts of the day Rowe lost by a small score and the boys had to settle for silver. 

 

After an early victory against Herefordshire, the Boys Light Weight ‘B’ Team of Nathan Moore, Max Lee, Jake North, Carl Ward and Tyler Carter could not finish in a medal position.

 

Despite being a player short the Girls Heavy Weight team of Charley Toseland, Cherie Simson, Amy Ellis Thompson and Rosie Roberts secured the bronze medal taking the scalp of Leicestershire on route.  The Boys Heavyweight Team of Christian Dunne, Josh Dunne, Sam Ellis Thompson, Peter Belton and Sam Homer also collected Bronze by beating Herefordshire 4-1.

                   

In the Senior Event, the Northants Men completely dominated.  The Northants ‘A’ ‘B’ and ‘C’ teams won  Gold Silver and Bronze while Northants ‘D’ were pipped for the other Bronze Medal by Derbyshire.  The Northants Ladies team also collected  Bronze medal despite being only 3 strong.

 

County Coach Stefan Carter was overjoyed with the performance of all his players young and old and gave special praise to Jake Simons and Jodie Caller as neither player lost a fight all day.