Dorking Judo Club - Millennium League Round 1 & Grading

The Dorking Judo Club - Millennium League Round 1 & Grading - January 25th 2004

Sunday saw Dorking enter 16 players into this year's 1st round of the Millennium League at Westcroft Leisure Centre. The club ended the day in 4th place just behind Westcroft, Pyrford and Sovereign Judo clubs. The DJC team consisted of Alexander Shaw -27, David Skelly -27, Toby Glaysher-Dowle -30, Daniel Brett -30, Clive Swithinbank -30, Timothy Louis -34, Samuel Reeves -34, Mathew Owen -38, Alexander Skelly -38, Lawrence Swithinbank -38, Joe Glaysher-Dowle -42, Eric Overington -42, George Dean -50, Jordan Lawlor -36, Natasha Watson -28, Abigail Jones -36, and Elizabeth Louis -44 For some players this was their 1st ever competition. Eric, an old hand, won his 2nd fight with a beautiful ippon throw. All DJC players fought well ith some very unlucky not to win medals. Those that did were; Daniel Brett -30 Bronze, George Dean -50 Gold, Natasha Watson -28 Bronze, Abigail Jones -36 Silver, Jordan Lawlor -36 Bronze, and Elizabeth Louis -44 Silver. Although Luke Ramsey and Kit Lawlor were too high a grade to take part in the competition they both turned up to work as Table Officials and in doing so earned Dorking an extra 5 points each. Molly Crook also turned up to help out, but unfortunately only a maximum of 2 members per club can earn points, otherwise we could have earned a total of 15 points from just Table Officals! Also taking part as Table Officals were Kit's Grandad and Harry Randall. Peter Leach spent much of the day working as the First Aider, and Richard Anderson later took part as an Examiner in the Grading which was held after the competition. Chris Crook was also there in his capacity as Public Relations Officer for the county (Newsletters & Website). Several junior DJC members took part in the grading. All players moved up a grade with Luke Ramsey now 12th mon (green III), Kit Lawlor 11th mon (green II), Liz Newell 13th mon (blue I), Sam Reeves, Paul Mortimer, Alex Cathrow, and Charlie Treadwell are now all 7th mon (orange I). Liz beat all the girls in her grading, but because she was already graded higher than them, the Examiner Ellen Cobb (8th Dan) decided to give her a line-up before she would decide whether Liz could be moved up a grade. The line-up consisted of Liz having to fight all 3 girls again, but one immediately after the other. She beat the first two girls fairly easily, but then she was up against Chelsea Coomber from Sovereign again, who was determined not to lose to Liz a 2nd time. The fight started well for Liz and she was up on points with the contest close to finishing. Unfortunately, Chelsea's determination to not lose again brought out a beautiful Harai-goshi and ippon score. However, by then Liz had already managed to impress all those watching with her judo skills so was deservedly moved up a grade to blue belt. Well done Liz !
Kit's Grandad and Luke working at Table Officials	Eric after his ippon win
George attempting tai-otoshi	Natasha being awarded her medal
Abigail and Jawdon being awarded their medals	Liz being awarded her medal
Daniel being awarded his medal	Peter giving some advice to the boys grading
Liz Newell in her line-up	League table