Wednesday 23 January 2013

British Junior Squad

I was pleased to receive a letter today from the BJA confirming my selection onto the British Junior Squad for 2013. Only the top four on the Junior ranking list form the Junior Squad but after my Silver Medal at the Junior Nationals I was Co-Opted onto the squad. It was a great competition as I was the youngest in the event.

British Junior Squad 2013

Saturday 19 January 2013

British Junior Championships 2013



After my Silver at the Cadet Nationals I had entered the Junior Nationals. This was going to be far harder than the week before as I was the youngest fighter by at least six months and the only 1997 player who had entered.  Most players in the group were 2/3/4 years older than I was. With the form I was in anything could happen.

Dominic Reilly (Sportif) First Fight
I had beaten Dominic in the final of last years Nationals and was pleased to start the competition well again winning with a strangle after some more good transition.

Jack Laidlaw (Danderhall) Second Fight
Jack was a difficult fighter and I had to rely on three penalties to get through this round.

Renz Vallejera (Tora Judo Kai) Semi-Final
This was the first time I had fought Renz  who was the number one seed for this competition. I was fighting better and knew I needed to keep off his uchi-mata I scored with a yuko before winning with a wazari late on in the fight.

This meant as the youngest fighter in the group I had reached yet another British Championship Final. In the same final as the cadet competition I would again be up against Peter Miles from Bradley Stoke.

Peter Miles (Bradley Stoke) Final
Unlike last week I tried to do more of my own judo and it was a much closer final. Although the result was the same I only lost by a yuko and will take more confidence into the next fight with Pete.

Link to the Results




Me & Pete in the Final



Friday 11 January 2013

British Cadet Championships 2013



After a hard couple of months training I was ready for the British Championships.  This year was going to be the toughest yet and I was going for my fourth title in a row. I had moved up to the -55kg weight group where Peter Miles was also going for 4 in a row so was really expecting a very tough day.

Scott Thomson (Danderhall) Second Round
As a top seed I received a bye first round and was then up against a fighter I had never faced before. This was the start I wanted with me winning by ippon in 25 seconds.  As usual I found top form for the big competition.

Freddy Hendy (Polkyth) Third Round
Freddy is a strong fighter and had won the Pre-Cadet Nationals in October.  The last time we fought I had struggled to beat him.  Today was different, and with a wazari and an ippon within 36 seconds, I was in the semi-final.

Billy Goldsmith (JSC) Semi-Final
Billy is a top fighter who I had only fought in training. I had to control the fight early and was pleased to score a wazari before ending the contest with a strangle. I was now in my sixth final in a row at the Nationals.

Peter Miles (Bradley Stoke) Final
I knew this was going to be a hard fight and had planned my tactics beforehand.  Sadly so had Pete!!! Many say it was a good fight but in reality Pete was all over me.  Silver medal was what I deserved but certainly a great result for me.

I was in my sixth National final in a row and I have now won 3 Gold and 3 Silver....hard work does pay off.





Link to Results

Friday 4 January 2013

Koksjide ETD Training Camp

No sooner was Christmas over and I was back on the mat. We went over to Belgium with the ETD squad for the Koksjide Training Camp.  It was a tough camp and only a week before the Cadet Nationals so it was pleasing to return with no injuries.