Sponsorship by the IOM Steam Packet Company enabled a small group of Judo players from Douglas Judo Club to attend a training camp and North-West Area Closed Championship Judo competition in Kendal last half-term.
For most of the group this was their first experience training and competing at the prestigious Kendal Judo Club, following in the footsteps of Olympians, National and International athletes.
The young people took part in a residential 4-day training camp and embraced the opportunity to visit and train at other clubs in the NW area.
The less experienced players then took part in an invitational competition.
Douglas Judo Club
The youngest players, eight-year-old twins Summer and Freddie Davies stepped up in their a weight groups and ended up against each other in the final, with Summer fighting hard to take the gold and Freddie the silver medal.
On Sunday, April 14, the young Manx athletes joined almost 200 other young people for the North West area Closed Championships 2024.
This was a huge step up for local pair Juliana and Stan Kopacz, who have little opportunity on the Island to fight people in their own age and weight bands.
Both used all of their training and strength to make their coach proud, with Juliana coming away with a bronze medal in under 63 Kyu grade women and Stan really impressing with his skills losing a close quarter final.
Conor Storey and Kieran Jobson also travelled from the Island and worked incredibly hard at the training camp and hope to be ready to step up to an area competition soon.
The experience was invaluable; it is so important that Manx children are able to compete at a higher level. Next step is the summer camp!
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