News for 2016

The County has held its 9th Gloucestershire Junior Open Championships. The event was again held at the Newent LC, which is also home to the Newent Judo Club, and whilst entries were slightly down on last year, the quality of Player which the event attracts was to its usual high standard.

The County was well represented with entries from the Bradley Stoke, Dowty, Stroud and Apollo Judo Clubs. These Players were also more than well represented in the medal table, with Bradley Stoke leading the way followed by the Dowty and Stroud Players. In an event such as this where the high quality of player is apparent, the Counties overall success illustrates the current strength of the Counties Juniors. Here is a full list of results.

The event was well supported from an official's point of view, although late sickness did affect the eventual number of referees available, but those remaining did their usual excellent job, and from a table official point of view, we are always well supported by people who really do seem to enjoy the event.

From an overall organising point of view, we had some good help setting up the venue the day before, both from people within and outside of the County committee, but as always with this sort of situation, help in clearing the venue afterwards could have been greater, but after a long day I appreciate that people want to go home, and I can only express my appreciation for the help we received both from committee and non-committee helpers.

Pete Salter

This year's Area teams event always had the potential to be a bit of an anti-climax for the County after last year's achievements when the Glocestershire County teams won every category they entered.

However with a team entered in every category, both the County's youngsters and Senior Players competed as reigning Champions, but with the six other Counties of the area lifting their efforts, we were given a reminder that last year counted for little this time around, and last year's Golds became Silver medal positions this year, and in the case of the Senior team event, we had to be content with Bronze position, with top performances from Somerset A, and Bristol getting themselves onto the Bob Taylor shield as Champions once again, and well done to them. Our youngster, pre Cadets & Cadets along with our Senior Ladies team nevertheless all put in excellent efforts in achieving Silver medal positions, and we now look forward to next year.

It's good to see that the Area team event is well and truly back, it's well run, and long may it continue.

During the team weekend, two players from Bradley Stoke, represented Great Britain at the European Open event in Glasgow, with a third, Pete Miles having been selected, but unable to compete due to injury. The two, who did compete, James Hayes and Lele Nairne, were by no means overawed by the event with Lele securing a win and a seventh place finish.

Four Players from the Dowty Club competed at this year's British Masters Championships in Edinburgh with Dean Douglas retaining his British title with four wins at -90kg, and Martin Davies with two wins took his first National Masters medal with Bronze at -81kg.

Just a reminder that the 8th Gloucestershire Open takes place on Nov 19th at its usual venue at Newent Leisure Centre.

Pete Salter

Eleven Coaches from Gloucestershire attended the recent Coaching re-validation course held at the Dowty Dojo. Although Sandra was originally booked to deliver the course as a Ne-Waza master class, due to her unavailability, Tom Reed stood in for Sandra and delivered an excellent Ne-Waza session. Tom is an unassuming, but very knowledgeable, and skilful Judoka as we all know, and kept the session so interesting from start to finish. Tom had not visited the Dowty Club since his days as a West Junior, and he said that he found his visit a very nostalgic one.

On the subject of Coaching, Maria Ritchie from the Dowty club has now completed her level 1 Coaching certificate, giving the Dowty Club its first female Coach, and the County its second.

The County has recently held its 2016 AGM. We were able to report a good year from both an administrative and playing point of view, with the Counties success at the West team event one of the highlights of its year. Treasurer Chris Salter was able to report a very satisfactory financial situation especially when taking into account the significant investment the County made in purchasing electronic scoreboards and accompanying laptops. The County also awarded grants to two of its most successful and prominent Players.

The AGM was followed by a County meeting, mainly for the purpose of making some interim plans for the 2016 Glos open, scheduled this year for Saturday 19th November.

Pete Salter

Five Junior Players from the Dowty Club took part in the West Open event at Hutton Moor this past weekend, and although I was unable to be there myself, the Dowty Coaches reported back on a good performance from the Squad. Helena Harvey competing at +52 Kgs continued her recent excellent form with a Gold medal performance, particularly good for a high quality Open event. Another good performance came from Scott Bedford competing at -30 Kgs who recorded 3 wins in winning a Bronze medal, and Callum Woodham was just seconds away from a medal at -27 Kgs, but still finished with a 5th place. Tommy Sheerin recorded a win and 7th place, and Edward Holder competing at by far his highest level also put in a good performance.

At the Samurai Green & under Scott Bedford and Edward Holder both took Gold; Helena Harvey and Callum Woodham Silver; Tom Holder, Tommy Sheerin and Jack Terry all took Bronze.

At the Coventry Mini-Mon Kayden Rudman took Gold.

At the Samurai Orange & under Scott Bedford and Kayden Rudman took Gold, while Tommy Sheerin and Jack Terry took Bronze.

At the High Wycombe Senior Masters Competition Maria Ritchie took Gold, Dean Douglas Silver and Bryan Butler Bronze.

At the West of England Junior Closed competition Helena Harvey took Gold, Scott Bedford and Callum Woodham Silver and Tommy Sheerin a Bronze.

Pete Salter

Dowty had five players at the Finals, held over two days, which were full of quality Players from around the Country, two of them - Helena Harvey and Nathan Berrecloth put in excellent performances with Helena taking a Gold medal at +63 kg, and Nathan a Silver medal at -73kg. All five of the Finalists had prepared well for the event with Harry Stone coming 5th having lost his fight for a Bronze medal.

John Lockey is the latest Dowty Senior to gain his 1st Dan, Black Belt status within the British Judo Association. John recently completed his theory to join his two son's Nathan and Jonathan, who are already Dan Grades at the Dowty Club.

At the Devon Mini-Mon Kayden Rudman took Gold.

At the Samurai Orange & under Scott Bedford, Kayden Rudman and Tommy Sheerin all took Gold.

Dowty Judo Club players have made a busy competition start to the year with successes at various events. At a British Schools qualifying event, five Players qualified for the Schools final event in Sheffield in early April. The qualifying criteria for the finals gave automatic entry for Gold and Silver medallists, with Bronze winners also being considered at a later date in the event of places available. James Dobson & Helena Harvey both qualified as Gold medallists, Tommy Sheerin and Nathan Berrecloth went through as Silver medallists, and Harry Stone has also been accepted for the finals as a Bronze medallist. Callum Woodham also won Gold at the qualifying event, but is to young to take part in the Sheffield finals.

At a Samurai Mini-me event, Kayden Rudman took a Gold, and at the Yate Star event Callum Woodham and Jack Terry both took Gold medals.

At an event in Wales, Tommy Sheerin won the the first of his three Gold medals within a week. His second came at the Samurai green and under event, which was followed by his third at an event in Coventry. The Samurai green and under was particularly successful for the Dowty Club. As well as Tommy's Gold, Callum Woodham also took Gold, and then there were Silvers for Kayden Rudman, Scott Bedford, Edward Holder, and Helena Harvey, with Jack Terry taking a Bronze.

As well as these Junior successes, Senior John Lockey has achieved a significant success in his quest for the coveted Black belt by completing the required competitive points tally at a Grading in Worcester. John now has to complete the theory requirements of his Dan grade in order to complete his promotion and join son's Nathan and Noddy as Black belts at the Dowty Club.

Pete Salter

I reported last year on a number of competition successes from the Counties Players, and I am pleased to report this year on another, if even more successful year in 2015. Our two leading competition Clubs in the County, Bradley Stoke and Stroud continue to lead the way on the competitive front with success at Area, National and International level. The successes are too numerous to mention them all, but Players.....

Here is the rest of Pete's report.

Newent Judo Club held their awards evening after the Junior session on Friday. The children who had taken part in sessions during 2015 all received a certificate, while some club members received trophies as follows:

Spirit of Judo Trophies :
Evie Woodham
Oliver Beumont
Henry Diggins
Chris Giglio

Coach player of the year Trophy :
Elic

Club player of the year Trophy :
Callum Woodham