16 year-old twins, Kathryn and Helen Cartwright, from Chichester Ronin Judo Club fulfilled their potential by winning the National Senior Juno Kata British Open Championship in High Wycombe, scoring 154 points. The runners up from Finland scored 149 and the defending champions scored 148.

They were cheered on by a large crowd, including past club coach Jerry Lehane, who said, “The girls showed maturity far beyond their years and up against opponents not just older but of far higher grades and experience. They also surprised me as to the way they conducted themselves in a situation which would be daunting to judoka of far greater experience. The step up from junior to senior champions was a seamless transition, which was clearly appreciated by the knowledgeable spectators. The runners up were undoubtedly impressed by the young teenagers and were sporting in their congratulations to their rivals”.

Commenting on their performance Helen said, “It was really good fun. We were surprised when we beat the UK champions and the other foreign nationals but we put in a lot of hard work and it obviously paid off”.

Kathryn said, “Everyone was so friendly and we got invited to Holland for a Juno Kata seminar”.

They both wanted to thank everyone who had helped them, especially their coaches and their parents. “It is a pity that we can’t go on to represent the UK yet because we haven't got black belts, but it will increase our determination and if we will continue working hard. Our aim is to one day represent Great Britain in the European Championships”, they further said.

The club meets in a permanent dojo in New Park Community and Arts Centre on Mondays, Fridays and Saturday mornings. Senior Club Coach Gary Snook was delighted and said, “It totally vindicates what we try to achieve as a club, spending evenings practicing the ancient art of judo, based on ju-jitsu – focusing on technique rather than competition fighting”, he said.

“Their judo is of a very high standard and it is good to see players practicing so many different Katas. It is really good to see Kathryn and Helen rewarded for the effort they put in to their judo”, Snook further said.

Chichester Ronin Judo Club was the first club in England to achieve the BJA Silver Clubmark award and now boasts 75 members, with players as young as five and adults as mature as 75 on the mat.

For more information visit www.chichesterjudoclub.co.uk