Olivia and Leah fly the flag at British Junior Champs
THERE was huge success for Newbury Judo Club’s Olivia Delahunty and Leah Hasler at the recent Under-21 British Junior Championships in Sheffield.
Delahunty, who was competing in a higher age group to gain more experience, began in the U63kg category.
She tasted defeat in her opening fight, losing against Katie Mills from JC Osaka to drop her into the repecharge.
Her next contest was Chanel McCullion from Beach JC, who Delahunty threw for Ippon.
The Newbury member next faced Sophie Wood from Sportif, an opponent she beat the previous week and she did the same once again with a Wazari.
Ellie Morris from SKK was next,
with Delahunty throwing her with two Wazari’s to progress to the next round.
Here was waiting Lily Harding from
Tonbridge and she was disqualified with three penalties, resulting in Delahunty going through to the bronze medal fight.
She fought Evie-Harvey-Jacobs from Rush Judo with Olivia throwing her with two Warai scores to take the medal.
As a result, she also gained the required points she needed to gain her black belt.
Teammate Hasler was next up in the U48kg category.
She won her first contest against K-C Franklin from Micklefield JC with an Ippon throw, and then next up was Jenna Massey from SKK with Hasler throwing her for two Wazari scores to put her into the final.
There Hasler faced Amelia Shave from Bradley Stoke and she threw her to the ground and then arm locked her opponent to take gold and become British junior champion.
Hasler also fought on the day after, in the British Senior Championships, in an age group up. She started well, but lost her first two contests against Amy Platten from Redbridge and Elizabeth Cheminais from Waterloo JC, putting her in the bronze medal contest.
Here she again fought K-C Franklin and she got an Ippon through a strangle to take the bronze medal. Newbury JC coach Nicki Harris said: “Both girls fought out of their skins over the two weekends, bringing back two gold medals and two bronze medals.
“I and the club are very proud of both of them and their commitment over the year.”