Hampson holds nerve for silver
HUDDERSFIELD Judo Club’s Ella Hampson claimed a silver for England in one of the most prestigious tournaments around.
The 48kg category Judoka secured the medal at the Commonwealth Championships, which saw competitors from around the world compete in the West Midlands.
The five-day event attracted more than 1,100 athletes from as far afield as South Africa , Barbados, Canada, India, New Zealand and Singapore as well as a strong contingent from the home nations at Walsall University Campus.
Huddersfield Judo Club had four players selected to represent England, having qualified by being ranked in the top four in the UK.
Hampson had a bye in the first round but began a great run through the rest of the preliminary bouts.
She beat Amie McCullen, of Scotland, with a hold-down, then Summer Shaw, of Camberley, by submission to reach the final, where she faced the No.1 seed Mae Bostock.
Bostock drew first blood, gaining a score from a reverse shoulder throw which rolled Hampson over.
But the Huddersfield girl didn’t panic and within the blink of an eye Hampson attacked with Sumi Gaeshi (sacrifice throw) and took Bostock down to the mat to level.
Bostock’s strength and experience, however, showed when she attacked with the throw that caught the Yorkshire girl and clinched the gold.
Oliver Booth struggled to find his form in the under 81kgs division, losing both his fights.
Gracie Wilson made it to the quarter-finals where she met the eventual bronze medallist Maddison Young, and in the end finished seventh.
British No.1 Spencer Lambert went into the tournament as firm favourite to win the under 81kg gold.
However, he suffered heartbreak when he ruptured the cruciate ligament in his left knee in his first match against Eoin Fleming from Northern Ireland.
He now has a long road to recovery and is looking towards returning to competition in the summer of 2020.
Isobel Kitchen, who trains regularly at Huddersfield, fought well in a tough U57kg category beating class opponents and reaching the final with all her wins coming by ippon.
However, she lost in the final to Keira Bateman in Golden Score.
Huddersfield Judo Club players are now preparing for the Welsh Open later this month October and British Championships in December.
If anyone wishes to take part in the most widely practised of all the Olympic disciplines, Huddersfield Judo Club practise at Huddersfield Sports Centre on Tuesdays 7-8pm juniors and 8-9.30pm seniors, Fridays 8-9.30pm seniors and Saturdays 12.30-3.30pm juniors.
Contact Simon Wilkinson (club secretary) on 07967 193651 or Gordon Lambert on 07909 691542 for further information.