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Please note, The Edinburgh Judo Club will close on:

Sunday 18th December 2011 (after the Christmas Fun Day) and will re-open on Saturday 7th January 2012.

We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we will see you in 2012!!!!

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A Parents View

At the start of July Richard Cooke competed at the Special Olympics world summer games in Athens as part of the GB team. This was the biggest multi-sports event in the world this year with 7000 competitors from 180 countries competing in 21 sports. It was a bigger event than the Paralympics will be next year. While Paralympics offers competitive sport for athletes with physical disabilities, Special Olympics provides competition for athletes with learning disabilities. Richard was one of 6 judo players who were part of the 150 athletes making up team GB. The week before the games the athletes were hosted on the Island of Skiathos. This let the team acclimatize to the heat which was especially important for those competing in outdoor sports. It also gave team members a chance to get to know each other. The islanders were very welcoming , greeting the team as they came off the ferry, and providing sightseeing trips, a demonstration of Greek dancing, a party and even a play performed by the local High School. The team arrived in Athens the day before the opening ceremony and were taken to their accommodation. The opening ceremony took place in the Panathinaikon Stadium which was the venue of the first modern Olympic games in 1896. The three hour ceremony, including the parade of athletes, was based on Ancient Greek Mythology and Culture, but the highlight was a 30 minute performance by Stevie Wonder. Weigh in and divisioning for judo took place on the Tuesday morning. As well as the usual weight categories, players are entered in one of 3 levels. Light randori lets the officials check that everyone has been entered at the correct level. Richard was entered as level 2 but ended up being placed in a level 1(the highest level) pool for the competition. Richard competed on the Saturday morning. The oath which the Special Olympics athletes take is “Let me win but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt” and certainly that attitude was seen during the competition. Richard competed in a pool of five players and so had four fights. He fought hard against strong opponents winning two fights by ippon and losing two fights by ippon, thus gaining the bronze medal and learning about different judo styles. The final result was gold to Kyrgyzstan, silver to Israel, bronze to GB, 4th to Germany and 5th to Kyrgyzstan. Monday saw the closing ceremony which again was held in the Panathinaikon stadium. The Special Olympics flag was lowered and handed over to Korea who will host the Special Olympics world winter games in two years time. The British athletes travelled home the following morning – Richard’s luggage caught up with him on the Wednesday. All that remains is a team reunion at the end of October.

By Fiona Cooke

The last few weeks have seen senior players from the club take medals at various events. At the recent Olympic Qualifier, the Lisbon World Cup Sarah Adlington +78kg and Sarah Clark -63kg, took 5th and bronze respectively. On the same weekend, James Millar -60kg, took bronze at the Tallin World Cup which was also an Olympic Qualifier.

Following that, both Sarah’s were competing at the next Olympic Qualifier The Miami World Cup. Both players fought extremely well and beat tough opponents en route to their medals. Sarah Clark took GOLD after strangling her Israeli opponent who beat Sarah at the European Championships two months ago, showing that she is regaining some of her previous form, with Sarah Adlington taking a hard fought and well-deserved BRONZE, after beating the Number 1 Russian in her third contest.

Last weekend, a group of female players fought in The Turkish B Tournament. Sally Conway -70kg took GOLD, Connie Ramsay -57kg took BRONZE, with Jodie Mullen -63kg  taking a 5th place.

Well done everyone!!!

The last few weeks have been extremely busy for Edinburgh Judo Club players, right across the board, from our youngest club players, right through to our elite performers. Players have taken part in the following competitions:

Lugi – Sweden

The British Open – London

Moscow Grand Slam

Ross-shire Open

ECC & EYOF Trials – Kendal

Senior European Championships – Istanbul

Scottish Mini Mons – Motherwell

Highland Budokan Open – Inverness

Madrid World Cup for Women

Well done to everyone who has taken part in all of the recent competitions and training camps. Keep up the good work. Follow us on Facebook ‘The Edinburgh Judo Club’ where you will be kept up to date on everything that is happening with your judo club.

The JudoScotland team left for the English Open on Saturday 26^th March, with many Edinburgh Club players present. From the girls, Danae Harris, Lisa Kearney, Connie Ramsay and Jodie Mullen travelled down, and from the boys Lloyd Manning, Alex Wallace, David Millar, Jonathon Dewar, Patrick Dawson, Nicky Thwaites and Christopher Sherrington.

In u52kg’s, a returning Danae Harris, along with Lisa Kearney fighting up a weight from her usual u48kg’s took to the stage. They both looked strong at the start of the day, with both progressing to the second round without a hitch. Danae then came unstuck in the second round against English opposition, which put her in the repecharge, finally finishing 7^th. Lisa stormed all the way to the final to meet training partner and fellow Ratho athlete Samantha Clark. In a close final Lisa came out victorious by means of an armlock.

Connie took to the stage as the number 1 seed and also started strongly progressing quickly to the semi-finals. Losses against strong Scottish opposition saw her finish in 5^th place.

In u63kg’s, Jodie was also unstoppable on her way to the semi’s, where she lost to the eventual silver medallist leaving her in a bronze medal match, which she went on to win. Increasing the medal total for the girls to two.

Then it was to boy’s turn to take to the stage. In u66kg’s The Edinburgh Club had three boys, David Millar, Alex Wallace and Jonathon Dewar. In Alex’s first senior ranking tournament he started well winning his first fight before losing his next two fights. Jonathon Dewar and David Millar were on the same side of the draw with David losing in a close semi-final for a spot in the final after narrowly defeating Jonathon in the fight before. David Millar then defeated Belgium Open bronze medallist Gregg Varey for bronze with a superb piece of newaza by way of a strangle.

In under 73kg’s Nicky Thwaits and Patrick Dawson were seeded 1^st and 2^nd so started the day at opposite sides of the draw. Nicky was first up with a convincing win before losing in the quarter finals to fellow scot Craig Mullins, leaving him in the repecharge, where after winning and losing again he finished 7^th place, moving his British ranking up to 7^th. Patrick progressed to the semi final where he fought Ratho team-mate Iain Feenan. With 23 seconds to go an Ippon score cemented Patrick’s place in the final against Kendal judoka Danny Harper where Patrick triumphed and won the gold medal.

In the +100kg’s category, Christopher Sherrington lost out in the final to current British Champion Matthew Clempner in a close fought contest, taking the silver medal.

All in all a very successful weekend for the Edinburgh Club which continues to cement it’s place as the No1 club in Great Britain!