Severnside Sporting Achievements
Caldicot Judo Club: 11th Sept 2006
MATT TAKES GOLD WITH HEART
With the start of a new judo season, it was business as usual for the players of Caldicot Judo Club last weekend. Having had a 3-month break from competition following the Commonwealth Championships in June, the players were back in action at one of the biggest events of the year - the Heart of England Tournament at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. The event attracted over one thousand of the best junior and senior players from the UK, France, South Africa and Eastern Europe, but it was no great surprise that the Caldicot club returned with two excellent medals.
photo: Matthew on the podium collecting his gold medal
Fighting in the young men's under 50kg category Matthew Damsell had a superb run of victories to take the gold medal in his class, winning by maximum score in all of his five contests. Hot on his heels, Lisa Buffin, who had just returned from a training camp in Portugal took an excellent silver medal in the ladies under 52kg section, by producing some very aggressive judo. In the young men's under 60kg group, Chris Sage was unlucky to be drawn against the current British Champion in the first round and despite needing medical attention of a nose bleed, gave his opponent a fight to remember, only losing by the narrowest of margins. Chris won his next fight convincingly but was unfortunately eliminated in the next round.
It was a great opener for the season and all three performances suggest that the club will continue to achieve medals at tournaments of this calibre throughout the year. Preparation is now taking place for the British Championships in Sheffield next month.
Caldicot has a long history of success at major tournaments with most of its players being local talent brought on through its training programme. The club is about to commence another beginners course for juniors (8-16) as well as adults. The courses will start soon. If you would like further details or an information pack, please call 01291 424755 or 421829.
Caldicot Judo Club: 19th June 2006
COMMONWEALTH MEDALS FOR CALDICOT JUDO IN IRELANDMonths of hard work and training finally paid off for two players from Caldicot Judo Club at last weekends Commonwealth Judo Championships in Derry, Northern Ireland - returning with medals for their efforts.
photo: Large and Little - Roger Sainsbury who took a bronze medal in the under 100kg class and Matthew Damsell who won silver in the under 50kg category
The club was represented by five players in total - the highest number of players selected from a single club in Wales, and their success came at both ends of the spectrum. Fighting at under 50kg, Matthew Damsell was the smallest and lightest male player on the Welsh squad and he returned with a silver medal, whilst, at nearly twice his weight, Roger Sainsbury took a bronze medal in the men's under 100kg class. Both players got off to a shaky start, being beaten in their initial fights, but then rallied to pull out some great wins to take their respective medals.
The three other members of the club fought just as well but were unlucky in their draws against the best players that the 20 commonwealth nations could offer. The other male player, Chris Sage, fought in the under 60kg category and took a great ippon victory in one of his contests. On the female side, Lisa Buffin put in a strong effort in the under 52kg group, whilst Nicky Moores picked up a single win in the under 63kg section. Like the Commonwealth Games, this competition represents the pinnacle for Welsh judo players as it represents the highest level at which they can represent the Principality and all of the Caldicot players performed with a pride and passion which has become synonymous with Welsh judo. Overall, Wales took 31 medals throughout the three-day tournament, which consisted of a Youth, Senior and Masters event - an excellent result and undoubtedly attributable to the recent influence of ex-World Champion Neil Adams who took responsibility as the National Coach for the Welsh Squad earlier this year.
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