ENRICO PRODUCES BEST PERFORMANCE

Link to Under20 Midlands Tournament 2008 Photos

Martial Arts: Tonbridge Judo Club's Enrico Atkinson was in magnificent form at the Midlands area under-20 age-banded tournament last weekend, where he battled for a well-earned silver medal.

Fighting in the A band category (-42kg), the 10-year-old St Augustine's School pupil put in his best performance to date, according to coach Chris Bowles.

Taking on past and present national champions, he devastated his opponents with an array of techniques on his way to the final.

The closely fought battle for gold was against his main rival, Asher Price, of Pinewood JC, who was not prepared to relinquish his title easily, and on this occasion, was fortunate to be standing on the number one podium.

Also fighting, but in the highly competitive C band group, were Dean Garlick, James Martin, Paul Crouch, and James Sparks.

First up was 15-year-old Garlick, of The Judd School, who has been working on developing his judo of late. Fighting in the -46kg category, he took the scalp of a national squad player with comparative ease.

He then came up against he current Great Britain number one in the semi-final, putting up a courageous fight, but losing by the maximum score of ippon, placing him third in a quality field.

James Martin, 15, of Mascalls School, Paddock Wood, started the day in sizzling form, dispatching all of his opponents with the maximum score of ippon.

However, in the semi-final, he came up against Aarron Turner and, unexpectedly, was caught by an ippon score, hence putting him into the fight for a bronze medal.

The young Tonbridge fighter won a one-sided affair and collected his medal.

Paul Crouch (15, of Uplands Community College) and James Sparks (15, of Hayesbrook School) won contests early on, but were unable to make the final pools.

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