Bridgeview Judo Club- Sussex Trials triumph

With an entry of 14 junior and seven senior players, the Lewes club coaches were delighted with so many spirited fights and so much high-quality judo.

Competing at this event gives players the opportunity for a place on the Sussex Squad and a chance to compete in the upcoming Southern Area Intercounties event.

In the junior competition, the medal haul comprised two gold, seven silver and four bronze medals.

Gold medals were secured by George Armstrong and Elsie Riggs. Armstrong was so dominant in his group that he made his wins look simple, whilst Riggs, being the only player in her group, fought girls from the weight category above her own to gain competition experience.

Silver medals were brought home by Jocelyn Kearley-Light, Marlon Afzali, Grace Chatfield, Amelija Andruse, Oran McGowan, Oliver Prokopy and Emmet Prokopy.

Kearley was winning her decisive bout, against a player she has never beaten, up until the final seconds, when she was cruelly caught by an opportune counter-attack. Afzali dominated his weight group and secured some fine wins. His one loss cost him first place, when he was punished for being too casual. Chatfield and Andruse were denied first places by very strong and experienced opponents but fought with their usual determination.

McGowan displayed some delightful techniques but was let down by his loose grips. The Prokopy brothers, associate members from Brighton Judo Club, both displayed a variety of attacks and were really only hindered by a few mistakes made through inexperience.