The last couple of months has seen endless success from judokas of all ages at Midsomer Norton Judo Club.
In June, Sydney Comer, Cody Hucker and Niven Comer all took part in one of their first championships, held in Cardiff. A huge turnout saw twelve girls in Sydney’s age bracket, twenty in Cody’s and a further twelve in Niven’s, all aged between six and ten. The players were put in pools in their respective weight categories and had at least four fights each.
Niven Comer took Bronze, winning one of his fights with an ippon, in style, despite being the youngest in his group on the day. Sydney Comer, also the youngest and lightest player on the day in her category, took Silver, scoring from her first throw in competitive judo with a waza-ari.
Finally, Cody Hucker took Gold in his category by winning all four of his fights, which included three wins by ippon, as well as winning £50 prize money for the best throw of the tournament. Coach and Assistant, Mark Comer and Matthew Hucker, train with the judokas at least twice a week, and were not at all surprised with the success, based on the commitment and attitude of all the children at the historic club.
Morgan and Mason Caines also competed on the day, winning three fights collectively, and took home Silver and Bronze in the under-fourteen years and under-thirteen years categories. Both showed improvements above and beyond expectation, reassuring Midsomer Norton as a judo stronghold.
At the London Open National Ranking Event on 2nd May, Dan, James Hucker, won two fights in his category, but missed out on a placed finish, whilst First Dan, Joe Dallard, finished fifth, which moved him into the top fifty in the GB rankings. Fourth Dan, Matthew Hucker, took Silver in his category after narrowly losing in a tight Final.
Team GB judoka, Matthew, also competed recently at the West of England Open National Ranking Event. With help from his sponsors, Centurion Health Club, Matthew just made the weight limit to enter in the under 81kgs category, whereby he won all his fights on the day and took home Gold for his club, planting himself firmly in the top-four of the national rankings.
Matthew said: “With 44,000 judo members and 55,000 participants, judo in the UK is a crowded and highly competitive sport. I’m proud of what this club of less than one hundred members can and has achieved; from the children’s success to my own. Myself and the club coaches, Mark Comer and Colin Taylor, look forward to bringing more medals back to the town.”
Midsomer Norton Judo Club welcomes people of all ages and abilities. For information please contact them via Facebook, or call Colin Taylor on: 01761 419703.