Robert, Stewart, Naomi

Torbay Judo Club entered a team of three judo players in this year’s Senior National Championships at Hereford. Naomi Vincent and Stewart Cole are both regulars at this event. Robert Edge has entered before at junior level, but this was his first contest as a senior.

Robert won gold in the Male Espoirs under 71kg category, a brilliant result for his first senior competition. Naomi earned herself a silver medal in the Female Kyu Grade under 63kg group. This was quite an achievement as the poor turn-out of senior females led to all categories fighting on the same mat, and Naomi had to fight against girls considerably bigger than herself. Stewart faced serious opposition in the large group of Male Kyu Grade under 73kg. He performed well in all of his fights, but didn’t achieve a medal position this time.

All three contestants fought well, demonstrating good judo skills, and were a credit to their Club.

Deb Vincent November 2007

Success in Somerset

First up out of our club was Joseph Kateb, fighting in his first ever competition, in the primary over 30kg category. He had three fights, winning two out of three, and resulting in a silver medal.

Also fighting his first competition in the same category but a different mat was Kristian Hardwell. He won all three of his fights and achieved a gold medal.

Next up was Thomas Davey fighting in the junior under 50kg category; it was also his first competition, however being in the juniors he was up against older and higher graded boys and did very well to win a silver trophy.

After a long wait, our last junior on the mat was Theo Hembury, also attending his first competition, in the junior under 60kg category. After a few hard fights against older and more experienced boys, Theo achieved a bronze trophy.

We then moved on to our senior competitors, first up was Min Vincent, originally intending to fight in the under 57kg category, but moved up into under 70kg. She had two fights, resulting in a silver trophy.

On a different mat at the same time was Paul Carthy, fighting in his first competition with Torbay Judo Club, in the under 90kg category. He did very well – winning all of his fights and receiving a gold trophy.

Fighting last was Mike Kateb in the Dan grades over 90kg category. He fought very well, winning one of his fights to achieve a bronze trophy.

Jim Folca was intending to fight in his first competition for Torbay Judo Club; however he injured his knee, but came to watch and give his moral support for the other fighters.

It was great to see Torbay Judo Club arrive with such a large group of competitors especially as everyone achieved a medal or trophy – congratulations to all!

Min Vincent, Competition Secretary

Silver for Naomi (‘Min’) Vincent

Naomi Vincent, silver medallist

Min’s done it again, returning from the BJC Junior National Championships with the Silver trophy for Female Espoirs Under 60 kg.

She was keen to put herself to the test as a new senior in the Espoirs category at the Nationals, even though she was the only one entering from the club this year, and even when she found out that her weight category had been combined with the next group up due to a shortage of entrants for the Under 56 kg in the Female Espoirs!

She had three fearsome fights against the other girls in the Under 60 kg group. She managed to beat her first opponent, after a long battle, with a strangle hold (no surprises there!). Her second bout was an up-hill struggle as Min was clearly the lighter weight. She fought hard, but the other girl won. The third bout almost went to full time, and it was beginning to look as though Min would win on points awarded so far, when she finally beat her opponent with an ippon throw. It was great to see how much her judo is improving. Fighting at this level, she didn’t get many opportunities to apply her famous strangle, but it was obvious she is now confident to try lots of other judo moves. She also displayed some good defensive judo, avoiding throws and extricating herself from hold-downs time and again.

It was a pleasure to watch the girls fighting with such good sportsmanship. Each contest was fought with a serious intent to win, but as soon as the bout was over, there would be smiles, handshakes and even hugs. What a great sport!

Min was thrilled to win the silver trophy, but equally delighted to have had the chance to do judo with girls of similar ability. It’s not often she gets to fight other senior females, and the men in the Club have a tendency to treat her gently, which she finds a bit frustrating. Okay, maybe not John. Or Mart. Or Ter, or Andy. Or Patrick, Alex, Robert, or Joe …

Deb Vincent, May 2006