Brilliant international judo training camp will be back next year

What an exhibition!

SOME of the most talented judo players on the planet descended on Tonbridge school at the weekend, for the first international judo camp of its kind in Great Britain.
The brainchild of Olympian Chris Bowles and double Commonwealth gold medallist, Carl Finney, the camp was a huge success – despite the best efforts of the weather.

Some 300 players from Japan, Ukraine, Belarus, Sweden, Holland, Kazakhstan, Belgium, as well as the UK (with the exception of the snowed in Scots), all put their skills to the test in a thrilling exhibition of judo.
"Carl and I both travel abroad with our guys on a regular basis," Bowles said. "We think it's important for our players to be exposed to foreign players, the different skills and techniques of the eastern Europeans and Japanese. So, we took the bull by the horns and brought it to England, so our kids won't be fazed when they go abroad. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to broaden their skills."

To understand the scale of this event one only has to take a look at the CVs of the coaches. The coaching line up consisted of many prestigious names including World, Olympic and European medallists such as Craig Fallon, Neil Adams, Nigel Dononhue, Dennis Stewart and Andrew Moshanov.
Bowles paid thanks to them as well as the numerous volunteers who made it all possible – including Joanna Yeats-Brown, Mark Organ, Chris Metherall, Moshanov, parents at Tonbridge judo club and staff at Tonbridge School.
"One comment I got, impressed me more than anything else," Bowles said. "Dennis Stewart, Atlanta 96 medallist, came up to me and said 'you have got to be the only club in the country that can provide that kind of parent support base'. The parents were just amazing and the job Joanna did in organising it was just fantastic."

Next year the camp will be back and even bigger.
As well as a two and a half day training camp, Tonbridge School will also host an international tournament for cadets and under 20s in December 2010. It promises to be another remarkable weekend.

Tonbridge International Camp 2009 - Friday Photos

Tonbridge International Camp 2009 - Saturday Photos

Tonbridge International Camp 2009 - Sunday Photos

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