Sights set on Birmingham

Bevan Brooking throws Jeanette Mary Foyle in training. A former New Zealand judo representative, herself, Foyle has been one of the support people in Brooking’s comeback from a 2016 injury. Pictures by Liam Clayton

Olympic Games would be the ultimate but Commonwealth Games is more attainable, says Gisborne Judo Club’s Bevan Brooking.

“From 2022, judo will be a core sport at the Commonwealth Games, starting in Birmingham, England, and I’d love to be there,” Brooking said.

He was a member of Judo New Zealand’s 28-strong team at the Oceania Judo Championships in Noumea, New Caledonia.

Brooking, a 26-year-old policeman, was in the senior mixed team who won silver in the teams competition. This event narrows the weight divisions into eight categories for men and women. Judoka can fight in their own weight division or go up a weight.

The mixed teams are contested at the end of individual competition, where Brooking narrowly missed out on the bronze medal to a Tahitian fighter in the senior men’s under-73-kilogram class.

“Competing against the mixed Island team, I met the Tahitian again and made sure I won this match,” Brooking said.

“We came up against the strong Australian team in the final, and they won gold.”

Brooking is a national judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion.

He came back from a 2016 injury to win a place in the Judo New Zealand squad.

“I have a set plan and competitions that I am targeting till December and then I will reassess where I’m at,” he said.

Brooking says he hopes to continue the momentum he has created through many hours of work, with the support of his partner, Jeanette Mary Foyle (a former New Zealand judo representative), and Gisborne Judo Club (and national women’s) coach Kiki Velloza.