A Silver Lining !

Tonbridge Judo Club’s Enrico Atkinson won a silver medal at the National Judo Championships in Thetford 18th November making the 10-year-old second in the country for his age and weight.

This is the first time that Enrico, who attends St Augustine’s School in Tunbridge Wells, has competed in such a high-class event and his coach Chris Bowles said it was an outstanding achievement to win a silver medal at his first attempt.

Enrico was fighting in the under 38kg category in the National A Band and was up against older, more experienced competitors.  However, this did not faze the young fighter who won all of his contests on the way to the final by the maximum score of ippon.

Bowles commented that all of Enrico’s throws were rated by the referees as the best they had seen for a long time at this level of competition.

The final took place at the end of the day in front of a highly charged audience of spectators after all the national finalists had made their entrance into the arena.  “This was quite an experience for Enrico,” said Bowles, “and one that I am sure he will become familiar with in the future.”

However, Enrico was up against current national champion Asher Price from Pinewood Judo club. Coming in at the bottom end of the age band he had his work cut out against the more experienced player.  Although losing on this occasion, Bowles said Enrico had gained invaluable experience. “Taking silver to the current national champion on his first attempt is an outstanding performance,” he added.

Enrico has been training with Tonbridge Judo Club with a strong team of up and coming competitors and Bowles feels sure that this is the start of a very illustrious career for the young fighter.

This now puts Enrico in a very privileged position at the judo club and automatically qualifies him to compete with the performance squad in Europe next year.

The coaches at Tonbridge Judo Club would like to thank Enrico’s school for giving him the encouragement and understanding that is required to produce a national standard player.

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