Judo players win national medals

Eight players from Woy Woy Judo Club have brought home three gold, two silver and three bronze medals from the Australian Judo Championships in Perth over the June long weekend.

The players represented NSW at the championships which was held at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre and hosted by Judo WA.

"There were three competition mats in operation and after the official opening ceremony, play commenced at 10am on Saturday, June 10," said Woy Woy Judo Club secretary Ms Lindy Simmons.

"Our first competition was the girls and boys under 16 years (ages 13 to 15) in their individual weight divisions.

"Starting at the lowest weights, Courtney Wye (green belt under 52kg) competed against another green belt from Queensland, then a blue belt also from Queensland taking both bouts to win the gold medal without her opponents getting a score.

"Kayla Wells (blue belt under 57kg) had three bouts, first against a brown belt from the NT which Kayla won outright initiating a throw for 10 points, secondly against a green belt from the ACT winning by five points, again with opponents scoring no points, then thirdly against a brown belt from Queensland who in the remaining seconds had Kayla in a hold down.

"Kayla managed to get to her knees as the bell went but the referee awarded the match against her.

"Kayla displayed excellent judo against the higher grades and won the silver medal."

Ms Simmons said that Rebecca Steward (blue belt under 70kg) and Naomi Cole (blue belt over 70kg) both were in the same pool of four under 70kg.

"The first bout was against each other and both were keen to win," Ms Simmons said.

"In the first three seconds Rebecca initiated a precision left osoto gari (leg throw) and defeated Naomi with 10 points.

"Both girls then matched a green belt from Tasmania and a green belt from Queensland.

"Rebecca won the silver medal and Naomi the bronze.

"In the boys under 16 under 60 kg divisions, Shane Ward (blue belt under 60kg) attending the Nationals for the first time, had three bouts.

"Firstly against a green belt from Queensland which Shane won by five points.

"The second match was a tough one against a green belt from WA, neither had any points on the board as they tried to match techniques.

"The WA player was very aggressive which Shane found hard to get under control."

Ms Simmons said the referee penalized Shane for not attacking which immediately awarded the WA player three points.

"In the third bout against a green belt from NT Shane was quick to finish him with 10 points and receive the Bronze medal," Ms Simmon said.

Ms Simmons said the clubs under 13 years competitors took to the mats on Monday, June 12.

"Kieren Handley (green belt under 34kg) was in a division of 11 players split into two pools," Ms Simmons said.

"At last years Nationals, Kieren was only beaten in the last two seconds by three points for the bronze medal and was determined to make a place.

"His first bout was a by, the next three all against one grade higher.

"Match one against a blue belt from Victoria was very competitive with both scoring point for point until Kieran scored a five point throw to win.

"The second against a Blue Belt from TAS, both again on the same score when again Kieren stepped in for a perfect 10 point throw.

"The final match for the gold medal against a blue belt from WA.

"The three minute match was in the last 50 seconds, Kieren had not scored and was four points down when he turned in and threw his opponent to score a point of five and take the gold medal.

"Jordan Smith (blue belt under 55kg) Jordan had weighed in at 51kg so he was the lightest of the pool of five, but this did not deter him.

"His first match against a blue belt from Victoria was over in one minute 40 seconds when Jordan held his opponent down.

"Match two against the blue belt from SA was also over in the first minute as Jordan threw him for a 10-point win.

"Match three against a green belt from WA was a repeat of match two with a 10-point throw.

"Then the final for the gold medal, Jordan's opponent a brown belt from Queensland was controlling the pace until Jordan got him to the ground and held him down in an exciting last twenty seconds of the match.

"Jordan received the gold medal.

"The girls under-13 division saw Shantelle Ward another of our first time National Players take to the mat for three bouts.

"Shantelle (green belt under 44kg) was very nervous in her first two fights both against brown belts from the ACT and Tasmania.

"In the first she was penalized for non combat and her opponent awarded two points.

"In her second her opponent held her down and scored ten points.

In the third match Shantelle fought a green belt from Tasmania who she got to the ground within the first minute and held her down to take the bronze medal, Ms Simmons said.

Press release, June 26 Lindy Simmons, Woy Woy Judo Club