Aireborough & Wharfedale Judo Club News

05/05/08 - Competition Results

Two club members enjoyed success in competitions three hundred miles apart on Sunday the 4th of May.

Jessica Copperwaite, who is fourteen years old, took part in a national championship in Hereford, where she won the silver medal in the 57kg category. This was an excellent result but Jessica was disappointed that she had only won the silver.

Mick Bowmer went to Carlisle to take part in the Northern Area masters championship, in the 81kg category. There were four entries in the 81kg category and four in the 90kg category. One of the 81kg contestants decided to withdraw, so the organisers decided to combine the three 81kg players with the four 90kg players. This was a bit of a shock for Mick, who has modified his training and watched his diet to stay in the 81kg limit. Having got over the shock Mick set about the task in his usual determined manner and beat all of his six opponents with maximum score ippon throws, to win the gold medal.

11/03/08 - Yorkshire & Humberside Closed Championships

Club members had some success at the Yorkshire and Humberside Closed Judo Championships which were held at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Bradford on Sunday March the 9th.

In the section for those under twelve years of age Joel Flynn had four very good wins to take the gold medal in the over 46kg category.

Two medals were won in the under sixteen years section, thirteen year old Liam Heron winning a bronze medal in the under 50kg category and fourteen year old Jessica Copperwaite winning a silver medal in a very tough 57kg category.

John Chamley showed that he is continuing to improve by winning a bronze medal in the men’s over 81kg category.

03/03/08 - Competition Results

On Sunday March 2nd Mick Bowmer won the gold medal in the 81kg category at the Southern Area Masters Judo Championships, which took place at the K2 centre in Crawley. Mick won his first four contests to earn a place in the final. At the end of normal time in the final, scores were level so it went to golden score, where the first person to get any score wins. Deciding that all-out attack was the best option Mick threw his opponent with a maximum ippon score thirty seconds into golden score.

On the same day two young club members won medals in the Goole Junior Open Judo Championships which took place at Goole Leisure Centre. Joel Flynn won the gold medal in the 50kg category for boys under twelve years of age with an excellent ippon throw. Jessica Copperwaite, who is fourteen, entered the 52kg category for girls under eighteen years, but couldn’t make the weight, therefore she had to go into the 57kg category, where she did extremely well to win the silver medal, only losing to a national champion.

20/11/07 - Competition Success

Two junior members, Joseph Walsh and Dylan Smith, entered a Mini-Mon competition at Pudsey Leisure Centre on Saturday November the 17th. Both were rewarded with bronze medals for their efforts.

On the following day Jessica Copperwaite and Liam Heron entered the Hull Open Judo Championship for those under sixteen years of age. Liam is only twelve and he did well to get through the pool stage into the knockout section of the boys 46kg category, where, unfortunately, he lost one fight short of a bronze medal. Fourteen year old Jessica, in the girls 52kg category, went one better and came away with a bronze medal. Both Liam and Jessica should be pleased with their performance at this level.

20/10/07 - Georgia Hill

It is with deepest regret to announce that former club member, Georgia Hill, also sadly died this week. The entire Hill family were involved in Aireborough & Wharfedale Judo Club for many years and we offer our deepest sympathies to her family and friends and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.

19/10/07 - Ashley Selman

It is with deepest regret to announce that one of our longest serving club members, Ashley Selman, sadly died this week. We offer our deepest sympathies to his family and friends and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.

22/01/06 - Tough Competition in Nationals

Adam Firth and Steven Takhar entered the National Junior Trials at Walsall on Saturday 14th January. Competition was very tough in each weight category, with young men and women vying for squad places in the hope of going on to compete at the London Olympics in 2012. Adam and Steven were both in the 81Kg category.

Unfortunately Steven didn't get through the first round pools, but Adam was successful in the first and second rounds. In the final pool he won a well earned bronze medal and a place in the National Junior Squad for 2006.

10/12/05 - Christmas and New Year

The last judo session of 2005 will be on Thursday 22nd December. The junior sessions on Monday 19th and Thursday 22nd will be games sessions but still wearing judogi. The first session of 2006 will be on Thursday 5th January.

Best wishes to everyone for Christmas and the New Year.

04/02/05 - North West Open

Adam Firth competed in the North West Open Judo Championships at St Helens on Sunday January 30th in the 73Kg catagory. This is a senior ranking event where medallists accrue points for national standing therefore it attracts a strong entry.

Adam fought throught the pool section of the competition but lost in the knockout section to a Commonwealth Games competitor. However he fought his way through the repechage to win a Bronze Medal thus gaining some ranking points, an excellent result for a seventeen year old competing against men.

31/01/05 - Grading Results

Several club members took part in a competitive Mon, Kyu and Dan Grading which was held at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Bradford on Sunday 23rd January.

Anniela Syed was our only girl present and she was promoted to 11th Mon Green Belt. In the junior boys Jacob Peniket was promoted to 9th Mon Orange Belt and Greg Perry and Owen Jackson were both promoted within the Green Belt grades from 11th Mon to 12th Mon.

Within the mens Kyu grade section John Meegan was promoted to 7th Kyu Orange Belt and David Greaves and Kash Rowan were both promoted to 6th Kyu Green Belt.

In the Dan grade section Adam Firth did well to gain another 10 points towards his 3rd Dan.

08/01/05 - Recent Competition Success

Adam Firth and Steven Takhar were Silver and Bronze medallists respectively at the North of England Open for under 20 year olds which was held at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre on October 3rd 2004.

Adam Firth finished his competition programme for the year with a flourish by winning the Gold Medal in the 73Kg category at the Goole open Judo Championship for those under 20 years of age on Sunday December 12th 2004. Although Adam is National Champion, this competition was still a stern test as it attracted a very good entry and obviously when you are a National Champion everybody wants to be the one to beat you.

08/01/05 - Promotion Exam

Several members of Aireborough and Wharfedale Judo Club travelled to the Mon, Kyu and Dan Promotion Exam which was held at York Railway Institute on Sunday October 17th 2004. The event being the last promotion exam of the year in Yorkshire and Humberside was very well attended.

In the junior boys, William Plastow and Greg Perry did well to win promotion to 11th Mon Green Belt but Owen Jackson and Armughan Syed had exceptional days winning all their contests convincingly. Owen was promoted three grades to 11th Mon Green Belt and Armughan went up to 13th Mon Blue Belt.

In the senior Kyu section several members were competing in their first grading and David Greaves, Phil Bott John Meegan, Phil Bone, Jim Tunstall and Kash Rowan were all promoted to 8th Kyu Orange Belt. 16 year old Steven Takhar had a good day gaining promotion to 1st Kyu Brown Belt. Adam First had an exceptional day beating 5 1st Dan Black Belts with maximum score throws to gain promotion to 2nd Dan.