|
Team England were crowned
Sainsbury’s UK School Games Champions after matching a rampant
Scotland side by also claiming eight medals on the final day.
Scotland proved a formidable
force in the morning session, taking a richly-deserved took four
medals including two gold.
The high-flying home nation
took top honours in the girls under 70kg and boys under 81 kg
categories.
The girls’ opening category
quickly become a battle between England and Scotland after Wales’
only representative in the category, Jodie Roberts, withdrew after
sustaining an injury in her first fight.
Northern Ireland’s hard-working
judoka Rebecca Cuckoo missed out on the semi-finals which pitted
international colleagues against each other in both contests.
Scotland’s Alison Wilson
saw off her compatriot Abigail Potter in the semi-final while
Natasha Maslen lost out to fellow English judoka Ebony Drysdale
Daley.
The final saw Daley, a
green belt, trying to power her way to victory while black belt
Wilson maintained a more methodical and tactical approach. The
pair couldn’t be separated after an energy-sapping four minute
contest and were still level after golden score. After a sterling
effort from Daley the more experienced Wilson picked up the referee’s
decision by two flags to one.
Bronze medals went to Abigail
Potter and Natasha Maslen, of Scotland and England respectively.
In a highly-talented under
81kg boys field Scotland and England one again come to the fore.
Conall McGregor bested England’s highly-regarded Charles Grocock
in the semi-final while team-mate Scott Imrie overcame England’s
Luke Meadows at the same stage.
The all-Scottish showdown
saw Imrie pull through in a pulsating battle.
Bronze medals went to the
English pair of Luke Meadows and Charles Grocock.
Scotland Team Manager John
Buchanan said: “I’m delighted with four medals from the morning
session.
“Early on the boys fought
each other and it’s always nice to get that out of the way, they
had great support from their team-mates in the crowd and that
makes a massive difference.
“We’d always hoped that
today would be a good day for us but you never know.”
2010
Sainsbury's UK School Games officials
In the event’s sixth and
final session the girls over 70k category produced some scintillating
judo as team-mates collided in the semi-finals. England’s Jodie
Myers beat Lois Brown while Kirsty Dickson overcame fellow Scot
Kate Saunders.
English standout Myers
toppled Dickson in a classy performance as Team England surged
into a memorable medal-winning session.
Four fighters competed
in the boys over 81kg category which was conducted by way of a
round robin.
England took a one-two
as Henry Godwin pipped team-mate Philip Awiti to top honours while
Scotland’s Bradley Fyfe and international colleague Ethan Furneaux
both claimed bronze.
The afternoon session saw
England add four medals, including two gold, while Scotland added
three bronze and one silver medal.
The overall trophy went
to England after the impressive home nation scored seven gold,
nine silver and eight bronze medals.
Team England Manager Trevor
Sitlinton said: “I’m pleased, they all fought very well, especially
today.
“Philip Awiti and Harry
Godwin for example were great, they were all clean throws and
we done really well again today. The English players were arguably
the fittest out there and that’s thanks to Jamie (Johnson) and
Nigel (Donohue).
“The Games is a very good
British event and I’m looking forward to next year’s in Sheffield.”
|