Samurai fighters in charge
5:45pm Wednesday 16th July 2008
FIGHTERS from Samurai Judo Club took part in the Kent International Open Championships and left with a host of medals.
In the junior section, the girls trio of Charis Hancocks, Millie Hancocks and Sarah Biles were all in the medals.
Charis Hancocks’ hopes of reaching the final came to an end when she lost the quarter-final to a Dutch rival but she came back well and in the bronze play-off match, when she worked an excellent backwards throw to score maximum points and take the bronze.
Sister Millie looked good in the under-70 kilogram weight category and three fine wins, all by maximum points, secured her a place in the final.
However, she was edged out from a fighter from Camberley and had to settle for silver.
Sarah Biles had a tough group in the under-63kg category, with three fine Dutch players and another from Belgium.
However, she made her way comfortably to the final, where she took a score off a Bristol opponent and held on comfortably to win the gold medal.
Sam Woodward added a bronze in the boys’ section, winning several contests by maximum scores and losing just once in the semi-final.
In the youth section, Tom Walker powered his way spectacularly into the final and then won an all-action encounter against his main British rival.
Scores flew in both directions but in the dying seconds he secured the highest score of the match to win the gold.
In the full senior section, Ryan Pitcock won several contests very well to finish seventh in the under-73kg category, while Nicky Haywood added a bronze in the ladies under-57kg group with some fine wins.
All eyes, however, were drawn to the under-81kg men’s category, which contained 30 top-class black belts.
Andy Marston, despite being a veteran, was making steady progress in the one half of the knockout, while Walker was matching him in the other half of the draw.
As the category progressed, the possibility of an all-Samurai final began to emerge.
Marston eventually made the final with a tremendous victory in the semi-final.
Walker polished off probably the best foreign fighter in the category, a strong Dutch player, in the quarter-finals, gaining a single low score and then superbly holding onto it for the rest of the five minute match.
However, the club’s hopes of an all Samurai final were dashed when Walker lost to another Dutch opponent in the last four, while Marston had to settle for silver after losing the final.
Walker was also unable to contest the play-offs for bronze because of injury.
Anyone who wants more information about the club can telephone Andrew Haffner on 0776 1122977 or visit www.samurai.org.uk