Dorking Judo Club - Millennium League Round 1 & Grading Results 2003

The Dorking Judo Club - Millennium League Round 1 & Grading Results 2003

The following Dorking Judo Club members took part in the Millennium League 1st round on Sunday 26 January 2003 at The Westcroft Leisure Centre in Carshalton.

Boys

-30kgs Alex Cathrow

-34kgs Paul Mortimer

-38kgs Robert Johnson, and Eric Overington

-46kgs George Dean, and Charlie Treadwell

-52kgs Nick Beall

Girls

-40kgs Nichola Cathrow

-52kgs Laura Webb

No one should underestimate the courage, determination, skill and effort required to take part in competitions and gradings, but for those who dared to challenge themselves and overcome their fears, the exhilaration and pleasure of taking part showed on their faces at the end of the morning.

LAURA WEBB'S weight group had only three players and her contest was the first of the day. It is always extra scary being the first one to start off the competitions, but Laura wasn't daunted and after one loss and one win, the SILVER medal was hers.

NICHOLA CATHROW’S group was larger and had 2 pools. Nichola came second in her pool with one loss and one win, and then was through to the knockout part of the contest and proceeded to beat the next player putting her in the running for the gold or silver medal. Nichola came away with the SILVER, giving her judo and her confidence a great boost.

The -30kgs boys was the largest group with19 players, featuring some of the hardest contests with a very high standard of judo. ALEX CATHROW tried very hard but did not succeed in his contests this time but showed some real improvement and just missed out on the bronze medal.

v The -34kg boys again was hard fought and it was PAUL MORTIMER'S first attempt at the Millennium League. Paul was surprised by the fast and fierce attack in the first round but undaunted by his initial defeat he rallied and in the second bout put in plenty of good attacks gaining experience for the next time.

The -38kgs group had ROBERT JOHNSON and ERIC OVERINGTON both fighting in this group for the first time both having moved up from the -34kgs, It was again a hard group, both players did well but did not progress beyond the pools.

The -46kgs boys had several experienced players. CHARLIE TREADWELL and GEORGE DEAN were in different pools, but gave as good as they got. Charlie had a tough time, especially entering as a novice contestant in a fairly heavy group, but experience has to be gained somewhere and next time Charlie will be "battle hardened and ready to go". George lost his first contest with several small scores against him, and then proceeded to win his second contest with a hold-down. George's last contest was against the eventual gold medal winner. George did very well to be ahead by a wazari and several small scores but in the last 15 seconds of the contest was caught by a tomoenage which scored Ippon.

The -55kgs had only 2 players so it was give it your all for Gold or Silver and NICHOLAS BEALL, he proceeded to win GOLD using a very tight Kesa Gatame.

GRADINGS:

Those of you who have reached 6th mon will know that gradings are different from competitions.

For gradings there are usually no shouts of "get in there! - Attack - watch your legs - open the barn doors" - the audience reserves its comments and applause until after the referee has given the final score. Meanwhile, the examiners are keeping a close eye on all the attacks and the techniques demonstrated by the pair on the mat. For gradings you can take a little bit more of a risk with attacks because only wizari (7 point score) and ippon (full - 10 point score) count - so you can risk a smaller score against you and demonstrate a wider knowledge of judo to the examiner and sometimes your risky attempts might make good scores.

For the girls it is sometimes difficult, as there are fewer girls in the general circuit of judo - hence less girls go to gradings.

LIZ NEWELL is a veteran of competitions and was too high a grade for this first round of the Millennium League but attended the Carshalton venue for the afternoon grading. Liz had to fight hard and show her good techniques and bravery against bigger girls and higher grades and succeeded in gain that all important step up to change the colour of her belt to Green - well done Liz - all smiles for you at the end of the day!

The Juniors didn't have it all their own way on Sunday - STUART McDOUGALL gained his 6th Kyu (Green Belt) at the grading too.

Well done all those who took part in the competition and gradings.

jpeg image of Robert in action