Two Gold's and Silver for Tonbridge Judo at Sussex Open 2007

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Stunning performances by Tonbridge Judo Club’s Sam Greig and Ben Houghton were rewarded with two gold medals at last Sunday’s Sussex Junior Red and Yellow Belt Open.

Four club members travelled to the annual event in Worthing which attracted around 200 competitors.

Sam Greig, age 12, of Oakwood Grammar School in Maidstone, was fighting at under 55kg yellow belt for the first time. The step up in weight proved to be a real challenge. Each contest that Sam fought in, his competitors were on paper the more experienced. This didn’t faze the young fighter in any way winning all of his contests by the maximum score of ippon.

Ben Houghton, aged 13, of Hayesbrook School, not only defeated his opponent in the under 50kg category but went on to beat two fighters in the under 55kg category. This was beyond any doubt Ben’s finest performance to date.

His coach Chris Bowles said of both the fighters: “This is the result of training consistently hard at the club two or three times a week. Ben and Sam are now reaping the benefits.”

A silver medal went to flyweight Lara Huxley, age 8 of Bidborough School.  Undaunted she dispatched three opponents in the under 25kg but was beaten by a hotly disputed decision in the final.

“This is Lara’s first competition under BJA rules and she is showing all the signs required to become a top class fighter,” commented Bowles

Jonathon Maxwell, age 10 of Stonegate Junior, in the under 34kg yellow belts. This was only his second BJA event. Having lost two contests in the early stages he was unfortunately eliminated. 

Bowles said that Jonathon had recently increased his training and should look forward to gaining higher honours in the year to come.

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