Six national titles to Gisborne Judo Club

MEDAL WINNERS: The nine Gisborne Judo Club members who competed at the national championships in Christchurch are back row (from left) coach Jason King, Sydnee Andrews, Caleb Jones-King, Lincoln Sycamore and Bevan Brooking. Front: Rubi Hart, Ella Kelso, Cleo Parkin and Corbyn Wilson. Picture by Liam Clayton

JUDO

ALL nine Gisborne Judo Club athletes who competed at the national championships in Christchurch returned with at least one medal.

Club members won 12 medals in all — six gold, two silver and four bronze.

Sydnee Andrews won three gold medals.

A member of the Tairawhiti Rising Legends programme, she worked hard in the months leading up to the nationals.

Andrews has made good progress this year, and plans to venture into Asia for more competition next year.

Cleo Parkin also won gold. She had her first taste of international competition at the Sydney International Open this year, and was determined to finish the year well.

Club coach Jason King returned to serious competition after several years off the scene, and won the masters men’s 40 to 49 years division.

The Gisborne club took a smaller-than-usual team this year but all athletes had met selection criteria and performed as expected and beyond.