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Women and Girls Initiative

VI star Lesley Reid inspires Eastern Area squad

IBSA World Games silver medallist Lesley Reid inspired the Eastern Area’s next generation of judoka as the guest coach for squad’s training session on Sunday 29 May.

Reid, 49, who was spotted in a 2008 talent search, took bronze at the VI World Championships in her first British selection last year and took silver at the IBSA World Games in April after giving up to 45 kilos to her heavyweight rival in the final.

The session attracted 30 promising young players who were from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge.

The morning session began with Lesley teaching the players the value of ashi-waza (foot techniques such as sweeps) and covered a variety of different techniques.

After a brief break the players returned to the mat in the afternoon to focus on transitions and gave players the opportunity to demonstrate their newly-acquired skills in randori (free practice).

Over a four hour session the players involved really impressed squad coaches David Oates and Mark Purllant with their attitude and work ethic.

David Oates said: "This was an ambitious session in terms of getting children to concentrate for four hours but we had nobody on the mat complaining or flagging, they all got stuck in and worked hard throughout the session.”

In total over £170 was raised for Lesley to support her bid to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Many of the players at the session were preparing for the London International the following weekend where the Eastern Area highlights included Gemma Moore, 15 winning silver at under 63kgs and Callum Curtis winning silver in the boys under 55kg.


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