Gisborne judo club members win 12 medals

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

JUDO

GISBORNE Judo Club members brought back eight gold, one silver and three bronze medals from the national intermediate and secondary schools judo championships in Tauranga at the weekend.

Gold medal winners in the intermediate schools’ competition were Gisborne Intermediate’s Rubi Hart in the under-45-kilogram division and Solomon O’Connor in the u36kg division.

In the secondary schools’ competition, gold medals went to Gisborne Girls’ High School students Sydnee Andrews in the over-70kg and open competitions, Te Rata Campbell in the u70kg division and Ella Kelso in the u63kg division.

Kelso also won silver in the open, Te Rata Campbell won bronze in the open, and sister Miriama Campbell won bronze in the over-70kg and open competitions.

Former Campion College student Thomas Mackenzie, now in his last year of secondary school at Havelock North High, won gold in the over-81kg and open competitions.

Gisborne Girls’ High School judoka were dominant at the championships, with Andrews, a participant in the 2018 Tairawhiti Rising Legends talent development programme, leading the way.

This year, the open podium was all Gisborne Girls’ High School students as they were gold, silver and bronze medallists. The girls all train together, and push each other to better performances.

Kelso, moving up a weight division, dominated the u63kg division, and gave Andrews a nudge in the open, taking the silver medal.

Te Rata Campbell won gold in her debut competition. She and sister Miriama are reaping the rewards of training with the more experienced Gisborne-based girls.

In the u36kg division, O’Connor beat the current national age-group gold and silver medal winners in his first two bouts, storming to the top of the podium.

Club coaches Jason King and Kiki Velloza were happy with the team.

The hard work was paying off, but the year was far from over and the youngsters still had a lot to work on as they prepared for the Auckland International at the end of the month.