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Several of Quayside Judo
Club’s leading prospects have received new grades as the Kingsbridge
club continues to produce some of the region’s finest young judo
players.
Among the new grades is
under 66kg fighter Samuel Westlake, who has become a black belt
1 st Dan and newly-crowned 1 st Kyu Rachel Wheatley.
Teenager Westlake caught
the eye of England selectors in March when he won gold at the
2010 British Schools Judo National Championships in Sheffield.
The club is evidently brimming
with talent which provides a great deal of encouragement for club
chairman Malcolm Wheatley, who describes the pair as role models.
“Both kids have been doing
it since they were 6, and over a period of 10 years they’ve come
through from beginners to 1 st Dan and 1 st Kyu and richly deserve
their grades,” he said.
The club received their
Bronze Clubmark Award at the turn of the year and their steadfast
efforts have been recognised by Sport England who provided funding
for 25 judo suits which will be loaned to new players.
The grant also enabled
the club to secure a second coach in Heather Williams who will
work with veteran coach Matthew Partridge.
Since 2004 the club members
of the British Judo Association have been based at Kingsbridge
Community College’s spacious and well-equipped gym.
“As well as a strong coaching
setup we have an excellent facility in the Kingsbridge College
Gym,” said Wheatley.
“I’ve been to a lot of
club’s in the last 30 years and for me our facilities are up there
with the best.
“There’s an enormous capacity
for players on the mat and we can cater for everyone who’d like
to try the sport.”
The club are hosting a
Western Area competition, the Peter Murphy Junior Tournament,
on Sunday 16 th May. Entries are restricted to current members
of Western Area clubs.
The British Judo Association
is the National Governing Body for the Olympic Sport of judo in
Great Britain.
Quayside Judo Club train
at the Kingsbridge Community College Gym, Balkwill Road, TQ7 1PL
. Beginners and under 10’s train on Thursday at 18:15 – 19:15
while all other players train on the same day at 19:45 – 20:45.
Media Contact:
Mark Pickering
British Judo
(t) 01509 631674
(e) mark.pickering@britishjudo.org.uk
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