Golden return for young judo aces
JUDO BACUP Judo Club junior coach Maria Edwards was very happy with the success of her judoka at the Kendal Judo Competition last Sunday.
“We sent a group of 10 to the high class competition and everyone fought with exceptional skill and determination to return with five gold medals, one silver and two bronze,” said Maria.
Nine-year-old Harvey Mullins, who attends Thorn Primary School, has only been attending classes for a year but already has 5 gold medals, and an impressive display on Sunday saw him secure his sixth. Harvey, who also boxes at Loves Boxing Academy in Waterfoot, loves groundwork, where he is strong and technically adept for his age and experience.
Jack Cook, 15, won bronze in his first competition and 8 year old Cain Brookes, a pupil at St John and St Michaels School, fought with real determination in his first competition to be rewarded with a great silver.
Another youngster Jacob Shattock came home with a bronze medal, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, coach Allan Shattock, and his father Richard, both black belt 1st Dans.
The experienced junior ●● Gold medal winners Edward Burnie, Declan Burgh and Sam Naughton with double Olympian Sophie Cox and former GB International Danny Carr quartet of Declan Burgh (Haslingden High School), Edward Burnie, Sam Naughton (Blessed Trinity HS Burnley) and Libby Genge (Crompton House School Oldham) won gold with ippon (full score) victories in all their contests.
This talented group are members of the North West Squad coached by former Bacup intentional Danny Harper.
They are following the Elite Performance Pathway to international recognition coached by double Olympian Sophie Cox and her training partner Danny Carr, who are also senior coaches at Bacup.
Between now and December is a busy time for the judoka.
Training is intense for the North West Area Championships and then the Nationals in December. In between these the elite juniors will be travelling to a competition and training camp in Sweden.
Juniors and seniors of all abilities and ages are welcome to come along to the Club, meeting above the library in the Mechanics Institute: juniors 6.45 - 7.45, seniors 7.45 - 9.30 every Thursday. Elite junior sessions take place on Mondays 6.45 - 7.45 with a senior class to follow.