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England excelled on day
one of the 2010 Sainsbury’s UK School Games’ judo offering as
the home nation picked up gold in all four categories.
Judo’s opening day at the
annual multi-sport event, which is playing host to 1600 athletes
and 10 sports, featured two boys and two girls categories.
The morning session saw
the girls under 48kg and boys under 55kg fighters in action.
Scotland’s highly-touted
British international cadet Loren Harris withdrew from the competition
due to injury which saw the five remaining young fighters compete
for top honours.
England’s Natasha Stevens
come to the fore with a string of fine displays. The St Nicholas
School pupil showcased some accomplished groundwork as she surged
past the opposition to pip compatriot Amelia Cook to the gold
medal after winning the most contests. Scotland’s Alana Hennessey
and Northern Ireland’s Aimee Mc Elhatton each claimed a bronze
medal.
“I was always aiming for
gold medal, I’m really happy to win it,” said Stevens.
“I’ve been in this position
before where there wasn’t a final before so that wasn’t a factor
for me. I’m going to focus on the British Championships in October
now.”
Team England’s girls coach
Chloe Cowen said: “Natasha was brilliant, she had a mature attitude
and grew in confidence as the competition went on.
“Natasha showed good ne-waza
techniques, her first fight was her hardest against Amelia where
she did extremely well, taking an opportunity to hold her own
and it takes skill to do that.
“The international team-mates
wouldn’t normally fight each other if they were abroad – they
would be separated until they got to final. On this stage competing
against one another is a fantastic experience for the fighters.”
The boys under 55kg division
produced some intriguing and high-energy contests as international
colleagues again collided. Aiden Jones of Cour Moor School squared
off with fellow England standout Dominic Naylor in a dramatic
final with the former startling his regularly training partner
by defeating him by ippon after eight seconds.
Wales’ Rudi Brooks and
Scotland’s Darren Kelly claimed bronze medals.
Gold medallist Aiden Jones
said: “I’m pleased to win the gold, I thought it might come down
to Dominic and me in the final. We train with each other every
week but he doesn’t do randori with me so I wasn’t sure what to
expect.”
Gold
medalists Aiden Jones and Natasha Stevens
The afternoon session enthralled
a capacity crowd as the English and Scottish swimmers entered
the hall to cheer on their international colleagues.
In girls under 52kg category
England’s battling Lucy Renshaw, of De La Salle School, overcome
a spirited effort from Wales’ Jade Lewis of Pentrehafod School,
in the final. Bronze medals went to the losing semi-finalists,
English judoka Stephanie Hahn of Davenant Foundation School and
Wales’ Kirsty Powell who attends Builth Wells High School.
Welsh Team Manager Steve
Clarke reflected on the efforts of Swansea’s Jade Lewis and his
side.
“They all gave it 100 percent,”
he said.
“We had a couple of last
minute reserves put n due to illness which was Connor Ireland
and Ben Jones, both winning one and losing two.
“Jade’s had a back problem
and wasn’t as snappy as usual, she wasn’t 100 percent, but to
get silver it was a good result for her.”
The boys under 60kg division
saw Adam Conroy of Bournemouth College triumph over compatriot
Zair Karimov, of the West London Academy, in a tense final. Bronze
medals went to Scottish pair Jonathan Dewer from Boness Academy
and Joe McCole of Perth Academy.
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