Report by Sqn Ldr Mel Anderson

Last week saw the RAF Festival of Judo, held at our Home for Sport, RAF Cosford.

The intent was to create an event not just for competition, but with training sessions for novices, and coaching and officials courses, prior to the main contest on the Thursday. Lots of new faces turned up, and were astonished by the presence of World Champion Craig Fallon for an impromptu teaching ession.

Liaising with the British Judo Association’s Technical Director, Colin McIver, we organized a coaching revalidation course and managed to create six new coaches and revalidate four more. This gives the Senior Coach, Sgt Fred Harris, much more flexibility to organize the RAFJA training schedule. Amazingly, just prior to the course, we got a request from Craig Fallon to tag along for his coaching revalidation.

Craig holds the distinction of being one of only two British males to simultaneously hold a World and European title (the other being Neil Adams), and only the third ever British world champion. Of course, we jumped at the chance, and managed to persuade him to run a training session with the latest techniques being used on the international stage. This was an amazing opportunity for the RAF players to get world-class training.

Despite a low turnout, RAF Honington managed to field a 6-man team against a 4-man Odiham team. The Honington team of LACs Kurt Gough, Ed Mason, Christian (“Mister”) Tee and Kai Stevens, SAC Rob Dove, and Cpl Kes David fought hard against the Odiham team of SACs Josh Duffy and Lee Brook and Cpls Rich Egan and Dan Shepherd, winning 4-2. Credit must go to Kai Stevens, who broke his nose during training the day before the contest, and decided to fight anyway.

In the Regional Teams, the North faced off to the South, with Cpl Rob Sabella of TSW, Cpl Fred Harris of AFCO Birmingham, Cpl Pete Sutherland of RAF Boulmer, and SAC Andrew Kenning of RAF Lossiemouth. They faced Sqn Ldr Ian Tinsley of HQ Air Command, Flt Lt Hamish Pearson of RAF High Wycombe, Cpl Kes David of RAF Honington, and Cpls Dan Shepherd and Rich Egan of RAF Odiham. This was another hard fought battle, but the South took advantage of their superior numbers and won 3-2.

RAF Squad

In the individual events there were some cracking bouts, notably Kes David’s huge O-goshi against Rich Egan. In the novice under-71kg, Kai Stevens fought Rob Dove and came back from a referee’s mistaken call of Ippon (end of contest - like a knockout) to win by a big shoulder throw.

After the standing techniques ( tachi-waza ), the afternoon consisted of groundwork competitions. This is a gruelling five-minute contest devoted to holds, chokes, strangles and armlocks. Kes David beat the heavier Hamish Pearson. Rich Egan used all of his skills to make some great escapes from Rob Sabella’s holds, but Rob was too strong in the end, and went on to win the contest. Hamish Pearson and Rich Egan tangled in a massive bout that went the full five minutes, then another twofor a golden score. With no score on either side after seven minutes, Hamish finally won by a referee’s decision.

Craig Fallon and Becky Dunning

The Senior referee commented that the standard of techniques from the novices was outstanding - no doubt owing to Craig’s training. Retiring to the Families Club, the President, Air Cdre Mark Neal, and the Chairman, Sqn Ldr Mel Anderson each bought a round for the players. The General Secretary, Sqn Ldr Steve Mowbray, also qualified as a referee, getting 100% in his theory exam and officiating under supervision on the mat.

There are many people to thank for this event, notably Steve Parlor of the RAF Sports Board, Russ Oxborough of the HFS team at Cosford, Smudge Smith and Malcolm Limrick for organizing the competition, Fred Harris for coaching, with Steve Mowbray and Dan Shepherd helping out.