ENGLISH BACK FROM INJURY
25 April 2008 - Tonbridge Courier

Tonbridge Judo Club's Scarlett English proved that she has made full recovery from a recently fractured collarbone by taking gold at Ford Judo Club's under 16 age banded tournament held in Dagenham last Sunday.

Fighting in the highly competitive girls'-48kg group, 12-year-old English had a long hard battle for the top spot on the podium but emerged as the eventual winner. She was one of around 350 contestants at the annual tournament, which attracts leading clubs from the South East and the Midlands and is a regarded as a good indicator for potential national standard competitors.

Tonbridge Judo Club sent a squad of 13 players to the event who returned with one gold, two silver and four bronze medals between them. This was the first high-level tournament for nine-year-old yellow belt Tom Greer, who was fighting in the -42 kg category. Greer, of Claremont Primary School in Tunbridge Wells, battled his way to the final but his opponent's experience showed through in the fight for gold and he had to settle for second place.

The other silver medal went to 15-year-old Andrew Panyi, an up-and-coming fighter competing in the -60kg group. Panyi took the scalps of several national squad players on his way to the final where he came up against local opponent Calum Gallie. It was a closely fought match which went to golden score. Panyi put in a series of attacks and was countered for a small score putting him into second place.

Bronze medals won at this event went to Enrico Atkinson -42kg (age 10) of St Augustine's School, Dean Garlick -46kg (age 15) of The Judd School, Tommy Chambers -30kg (age 10) of Hartley Primary School and Lara Huxley -25kg (age eight) of Bidborough School.

Performance of the day, according to coaches Chris Bowles, Andy Morton and Dick Marcroft, went to 15-year-old Hayesbrook pupil James Sparks who was fighting in the difficult -55kg group.

"All of the above fighters came across stiff opposition but their determination due to their dedication in training is starting to pay off," said Bowles.

Also competing at this event were: Paul Crouch -55kg (age 15) of Uplands Community College; Roman Marshall -30kgs (age nine) of Stonegate Junior School; Dominic Morton -38kgs (age 11) of Hextable Primary School; James Draper -55kgs (age 15) and Molly Tawney -44kgs (age 10) of Bidborough School.

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