Winchester Judo & Martial Arts Club

Throughout the year there is the opportunity to take part in local and national competitions and gradings. When members of our club achieve success (which happens very frequently) we like to shout about it!

Here is a running list, most recent first, of the various achievements throughout the year, plus cuttings that have appeared in local papers and national magazines.

Winchester Judo and Martial Arts Club junior judo players finished the year as they started it by winning medals at the Southern Area Open Junior/Youth Championships.

National champion Annie Boby aged 11 won gold in a new weight category for her the girls u44kg. Jack Power aged 15 won bronze in the u81kg youth section, while Elleanor Ridge aged 16 returned to medal winning ways taking the gold in the u48kg youth section.

Jamie Lewington won gold in the Alton Kyu grade cup after being invited along to the North Hampshire club as a guest.

Winchester Judo and Martial Arts Club junior judo player Annie Boby aged 11 won gold at the National under 12 Championships held in Nottingham.

Fighting in the u40kg group Annie brilliantly fought her way into the final to face an opponent who had beaten her in the pool stages earlier in the day. This time the Winchester Judo Clubs starlet reversed the result by holding her opponent down in the last few seconds of the contest.

Annie becomes the Lido based clubs, first National Junior medallist for nearly 35 years to join a very elite group.

Annie's coach Glen Judd said ‘Annie’s has been targeting the Nationals all year and has put in loads of hard work to become National Champion, everyone at the club is so proud of her achievements’

Winchester Judo and Martial Arts Club junior judo players Annie Boby aged 11 and Jack Power aged 14 both won gold medals at the Devizes Open Judo Championships.

Annie won gold in the girls under 12 u40kg group, while Jack won the boys over 73kg section. Ellie Ridge also competed fighting in the u48kg group but just missed out on a medal.

So whilst the grown up's swan around on their holidays, the younger generation continue to show us up by winning further medals! Well done all!

It has been a successful few weeks for the Winchester Judo and Martial Arts Club Judo players, who have competed in four events across the South of England.

David Hurrell aged 12 was selected for the Winchester and District team to compete in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight games held in Aldershot where the team won a bronze medal with David winning all of his fights.

The next day Jack Power aged 14 won gold in the under 81kgs Southern Area Open Orange Belt Championships held at the K2 arena in Crawley.

The following weekend senior player Brendan Jeynes won a fantastic silver medal at the London Open Championships he competed in the men’s under 90kg section.

Finally Annie Boby aged 11 won a Bronze in the girls under 40 kg yellow belt section in the Kent International Championships held at Crystal Palace. Annie had already beat the eventual Gold medallist earlier on in the group stages.

Team mate Eleanor Ridge aged 15 just missed out on the medals, winning 2 of her 4 fights in the girls under 48kg group.

Winchester Judo clubs junior players Annie Boby and Jack Power were both selected to represent Hampshire in the Inter Counties Team Championships.

The annual event was this year held in Portsmouth with teams from Surry, Sussex and Kent also taking part.

Annie aged 11 fought well against more experienced players, the Hampshire girls finished with a bronze medal.

Jack aged 14 was the boys heavyweight over 73kg player, in the final match against Surrey it all came down to his fight to decide who would win the gold or silver medal. After 20 seconds he produced a massive throw to the delight of his team mates to secure the gold medal for the Hampshire boys.

One the same day Eleanor Ridge aged 15 travelled to High Wycombe to fight in the 61 Club Youth Championships and was rewarded by winning gold in the girls u48kg section.

Hampshire Closed Judo Championship at the Mountbatten Centre - March 2011

Three juniors from Winchester Judo and Martial Arts Club all won medals at the Hampshire Closed Judo Championships held in Portsmouth.

Annie Boby aged 11 won gold in the girls u40kg section, winning all her fights by a maximum 10 point Ippon score; including beating last years champion in her first fight.

Eleanor Ridge aged 15 won bronze in the girl’s u48kg section in a tough group containing two England squad players.

Thomas Wilson failed to progress out of his pool in the boys u34kg section but performed well in his 1^st competition.

In the senior section Ilja Kalugins and Brendon Jeynes won bronze and silver medals in the men’s u73 and u90kg sections.

The following club members took part in the Winchester Festival of Judo. The players from left to right are:

Ieuan, Louie, Mark and Harry. Will also took part but managed to avoid the camera this time round!

Two juniors from Winchester Judo and Martial Arts Club both won medals at recent Championships held in Worthing.

Eleanor Ridge won silver in the combined u48/u52kg section in the South Coast Open Event which attracted some of the top players in the country.

The following weekend 10 year old Annie Boby won gold in the u40kg section at the South Coast Red & Yellow Belt Rumble, winning all of her 4 fights.

SPECIAL FEATURE - Eleanor Ridge

Winchester Judo and Martial Arts Club rising star Eleanor Ridge aged 14 added to her growing medal collection by winning the Southern Area Open mini-mons championship held in Worthing last weekend. The Kingsworthy youngster won Gold in the combined u44/u48kg group, producing an outstanding display by dispatching all of her opponents with huge throws.

Eleanor was also presented with another award on Monday night when coach Glen Judd presented her with the prestigious ‘Spirit of Judo’ award. The wooden eagle has been at the club since the early 70’s when John Piper brought the award back with him after a trip to Japan.

Ellie works really hard and never misses a session. She has a great attitude and her Judo skills are coming along in leaps and bounds said her proud coach.

Hampshire Open Junior Judo Competition at the Mountbatten Centre

Report by Glen Judd - 3rd Dan Judo Coach at WJAMAC.

Luke Sylvester aged 15 and Eleanor Ridge aged 14 both won medals in the recent Hampshire Open Junior Judo Competition held at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth.

Eleanor produced one of the throws of the day on route to winning a silver medal in the girls u48kg group.

Luke who was fighting in his first competition fought well to win a bronze medal in the boys u60kg group.

Although the entry numbers were lower than in recent years the quality of competitors entering still remained high, the Winchester Judo and Martial Arts Club members done themselves and the club proud.

Hampshire Yellow Belt & Under at the Mountbatten Centre - Plus Inter-Counties in Kent

Report by Glen Judd - 3rd Dan Judo Coach at WJAMAC.

Last weekend 3 junior judo players from Winchester judo and martial arts club entered the Hampshire yellow belt and under championships held at Portsmouth’s Mountbatten centre.

Eleanor Ridge 14 won gold in the u48kg section, for the second year running; while Imogen Churcher aged 11 and Jack Power aged 13 both won silver in the girl’s u57kg and boy’s u73kg group respectively.

On the previous weekend Harry Boby and Eleanor Ridge were both selected for the Hampshire team to fight in the inter-counties team championships held in Kent. The boys won gold and the girls won bronze. Both players performed well in a high quality competition.

Hampshire Closed Judo championships held in Portsmouth - March 2010

Report by Glen Judd - 3rd Dan Judo Coach at WJAMAC.

Five players from Winchester Judo and Martial arts club fought in the Hampshire Closed Judo championships held in Portsmouth – all five came away with medals, 3 Gold, 1 Silver and a Bronze.

Gold medals were won by Charles Tighe in the u38kg section and Harry Boby in the u42kg group. The silver medal was won by youngest player Jake Fay in the u34kg section, while Eleanor Ridge won Bronze in a tough girls u48kg section.

Senior player Jessamy Tyrrell won the other gold in the womens u63kg group despite being the lowest grade in the group.

All players now gain a place in the Hampshire squad, with all four juniors already selected for a friendly match against Hertfordshire in a couple of weeks.

Harry Boby won his second gold medal in a week winning the southern area open held at the K2 sports centre in Crawley West Sussex, while team mate Jake Fay had to be content with a bronze medal this time.

June 2009 - Southern Area Open - K2 Crawley, Sussex

Three of Winchester Judo and Martial Arts club talented youngsters entered the Southern Area Open - Junior and Youth Judo Championships held at the K2 arena in Crawley Sussex.

The trio produced some stunning judo and returned home with 2 silver and 1 gold medal. Jake Fay aged 10 won a silver medal in the boys u12 years u30kg group.

Harry Boby aged 11 went one better to win the gold in the boys u12 years u38kg group, while Jessamy Tyrrell aged 17 won the silver medal in the youths u63kg section.

This was a fantastic result in a tough competition; that was littered with players from the British Cadet Squad.

The previous weekend Jake and Harry both won silver medals in the Salisbury Open Championships.

May 2009 - High Wycombe Masters / Hampshire Yellow Belt & Under - Mountbatten Centre

Last weekend Winchester Judo and Martial Arts club Judo players had a successful couple of days.

On Saturday club coach Glen Judd (3rd Dan) took part in the High Wycombe Masters tournament. Fighting in the u81kg over 45yrs section, he came away with a bronze medal in this traditionally strong event which this year saw a record number of entries.

On Sunday junior players Phoebe Murray aged 10 and Eleanor Ridge aged 12 competed in the Hampshire yellow belt and under competition held in Portsmouth.

Phoebe won 2 of her 4 fights in the girls u40kg section to earn a bronze medal while club mate Eleanor won all her contests by the maximum score of Ippon to take away the gold medal in the girls u48kg section, despite being the lowest graded girl in the group.

This was an outstanding achievement from both girls in their 1^st ever competition.