Jake crowned British champ
WHIT WORTH student Jake Brearley is now the British Schools’ Judo Champion.
Jake, from Whitworth Community High School, was delighted to win gold in the competition, which was held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on March 14.
The 14-year-old had three fights in the Years 8 and 9 under 66kg category and he won all three, even though the other competitors were a lot taller than him.
He was cheered on not just by his family, but also by Whitworth’s Technology Technician Victoria Gilbert and PE Technician Laura Bowater, who both attended the event.
Teacher in Charge of PE Will Cawley FaceTimed Jake to wish him well and kept the school Twitter feed updated with pictures of Jake at the competition and a report on his success.
Jake said: “The hardest of my fights was the semifinal because I was one of the smallest competitors and the fighters came from all over Great Britain.
“I go to different judo clubs and that has helped me because I get to spar with different people.”
He is a member of Rochdale Judo Club, where he is coached by Amdy Merchant, and he has recently started training with Danny Carr in Heywood who is working on his groundwork and one-to-one technique.
Jake would have been fighting in another judo competition in Northern Ireland and one in Holland, but Covid 19 has led to both competitions being cancelled.
He is hoping that a competition in Greece later this year may be able to take place.
Although he cannot attend the judo clubs, to keep fit Jake is following online judo sessions, working out by doing sit ups, press ups, lifting dumb bells and weights and running locally.
His mum Sarah said: “He wanted me to provide him with a sparring partner, but after 30 seconds there was no way I could do it, even though he was only pulling me and not trying to throw me.
“I thought it was great the support that Jake received in the competition from school.”
Jake joined Rochdale Judo Club after a taster session at Britannia Primary School and he has continued with the sport ever since.