Summit Grappling Academy brought home a string of remarkable victories from the IBJJF Rome Open and the IBJJF Kids European Championships this weekend.
Leading the charge was Coach Hayley Curtis, who made a triumphant return to competition after a challenging period of injury recovery.
Curtis dominated her division at the IBJJF Rome Open, winning her semi-final with an emphatic 10-0 on points, and sealing gold in the final with a 7-0 victory.
At no point was Curtis under threat, exhibiting complete control and tactical brilliance throughout. Curtis then went on to make an even bolder statement by claiming gold in the Absolute division—the open weight category.
After a commanding 14-0 win in the semi-final, the final presented a true test of grit.
An awkward guard jump from her opponent resulted in a painful injury mid-match, but Curtis showed immense heart and determination to push through and claim her second gold of the event.
Coach Sarah Redmond did not have an opponent in her weight division on the day so it meant she took default gold, qualifing for the Absolute in her age bracket.
She faced a Heavyweight in her final and although she put up a sustained effort, her opponent submitted her with an armlock.
Juniors
The SGA Junior Squad also made their mark at the IBJJF Kids European Championships, which ran alongside the Rome Open. Alan Greenhalgh earned a silver medal in a tough and experienced bracket.
After being sidelined from the 2024 European Championships due to illness, Greenhalgh returned with fire, winning his semi-final 10-7 in a hard-fought battle.
He narrowly missed gold in the final but demonstrated resilience and skill throughout.
Hanako Henson, who became the Isle of Man’s first and only Kids European Champion in 2024, also brought home silver after stepping up into a higher age category.
Henson impressed with a close semi-final win and battled valiantly in the final against more seasoned opposition.
s with all the Competitors, the performances signal great promise as the team now turn their focus to the British Open in eight weeks’ time.
Summit Grappling Academy extends sincere thanks to Hartford Homes for their generous sponsorship, which helped make the trip and these achievements possible.
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