Team Judo Photo: The Tonbridge Judo squad who attended the South of England Championships. Coach Chris Bowles is pictured left and on the right is Ben Quilter, who presented the medals and is representing Britain in Judo at the Paralympics at -60k. He is the European Silver medallist and currently ranked 5th in the world.  

GREIG SEIZES THE DAY  13 June 2008

Tonbridge Judo Club members were out in force at the weekend for the South of England Junior and Youth Championships, held at Crawley.

With a split squad of players - five players at Berlin, five at national squad training at Dartford, this was a great opportunity for the younger fighters in the club to make their mark.

The day belonged to Sam Greig (-55kg) in the junior section. Taking the gold seemed a daunting prospect, as Henry Jolliffe, of Bushido, was the hot favourite. Unfazed, 13-year-old Greig and his coach worked out a game plan, which gave a maximum score of ippon in just 10 seconds.

This put Greig in the final against old rival Elliot Trainor, from Pinewood JC, which proved to be one-way traffic in favour of the Tonbridge fighter. He demonstrated a range of gripping and throwing techniques and caught his opponent with possibly the best throw of the day, which led to a gold medal for Greig.

Also taking a gold medal at this event was Elizabeth Draper, competing in the -52kg junior girls' category. Although Draper was fighting bigger and more experienced girls, her hard work and extra training paid off. There was further success for the Draper family when her brother James fought well to win a silver medal in the difficult -55kg category.

Notable performances also came from Tommy Chambers, aged 10, who won a silver fighting at -30kg, Harry Try, 11, silver at -42kg, Scarlett English, 12 silver (-48kg), Kalum Blanks, 11, silver (-34kg), Enrico Atkinson, 11, bronze (-42kg), Frazer Chamberlain, 16, bronze (youth -66kg) and Lara Huxley, eight, bronze (-25kg).

There was a hard-fought fifth place in the -55kg category for a very tired James Sparks, 15, who was fresh off the aeroplane, having fought in the Tuzla-Cup in Berlin the previous day.

First-time fighters at this level were Bradley Chalklin (age nine) and Luke King, both aged nine and both of whom should take heart from their performances.

Coaches Chris Bowles, Dick Marcroft and Colin Eldridge were delighted by the performances of all the children and congratulations must also go to the parents, as without their valued support none of this could take place.

Anybody wishing to take part in the Olympic sport of judo for fun or competition should contact Chris Bowles on 01732 838532

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