Eight players from Apollo Judo Club entered the Bradley Stoke competition in South Gloucestershire on the 8th March, two of them competing for the first time.

Early in the morning the under 30 kilogram weights fought, Jon Phelps in the under 24kgs came away with gold medal after three quick impressive wins out of three.

Jamie Kennard was the next to fight in the under 30kgs, Jamie lost his first fight but came back strongly to win his next two fights and gain bronze.

Mid morning the lightweights fought, both Luke Mills and Danny Green fought in the same category, Under 32kgs, Luke came out stronger winning two of his three fights the first being against Danny, Danny who was in his first competition came back to win his second fight, then lost the third. Luke came away with Silver, Danny came away with Bronze.

Next to fight was Frazer Montague in the under 38kgs event, pushing hard in his fights against higher grades he fought well gaining one win out of three coming away with Bronze.

James Green was next to fight, in a very competitive group of under 37kgs although he lost his first three fights, he finally gained a win in his fourth fight which gained him bronze.

Last to fight were two of the clubs girls, Lucy Phelps in the under 48kgs, and Jennifer Probert in the under 57kgs event. Lucy fought strongly in her event even though she was the lightest, Lucy one two and lost two, and came away with silver. Jennifer was in her first competition and worked hard, although she lost all her fights she claimed bronze in a small group of players.

Four players from Apollo Judo Club entered their first competition of the year, three of them competing for the first time. In the middleweight girls category Connie Gardiner competed for the first time ever winning two fights on her way to gaining bronze in a combative group.

Next to fight were Luke Mills and Jamie Kennard in the boys lightweight group 32kg’s, in a group of 32 players, they also were in their first competition both fought well before losing out on medal places, Luke gaining fifth place and Jamie 7th.

Last to fight was Jon Phelps one of the smallest fighters at 22kg’s, Jon fought well in the boys lightweight against much heavier boys and then being matched in a separate group against some lighter players, Jon in this group came away with a bronze medal.

All four players fought well and represented the club fantastically gaining a lot of respect from the officials with how they acted. Congratulations to all the players on their effort.

In her first competition of the year, Katie Williams fought in the under 32kg competition at the Samurai Judo club in Kidderminster. Katie fought in a highly completive group winning all her fights to gain the gold medal.

Katie then took the opportunity to fight in the open category, fighting much heavier and skilled competitors and came away with a creditable bronze medal.

Fighting in her first ever competition was Tilly Turpin-West. Tilly was fighting in a category with much higher grades, fought well and came away with a 5th place.