Judo: Local fighters bag decent medal haul

City College Judo Club's Mathew Leith, above, tangles with Wanganui Judo Club's Caleb Mence during the North Wellington Regional Judo tournament at the Wanganui High School hall on Sunday. Photo/Bevan Conley

Among a field of nearly 190 competitors, the fighters from the Wanganui and City College judo clubs were still able to stand out at the North Wellington Regional Judo tournament at the weekend.

Held on Saturday and Sunday inside the Wanganui High School gym, there were 190 entries from 7-year-olds up to Masters in the 55-60 year category.

The Wanganui Judo Club's leading hope would have been Aiden Voice, the under-90kg cadet men's champion at the Oceania Championships, however he suffered an injury in training on Wednesday and was pulled out by coach Wayne Watson.

Watson's son, Kasey, did well, winning gold in the Cadet men's grades of over and under-81kg.

Meanwhile, Israel Calkin won the under-24kg Junior boys' division, Xavier Calkin took out the under-32kg Junior boys', and Lochlan Watson was victorious in the over-36kg Junior boys'.

Wanganui Judo members also earned 15 other top-three placings, notably brown-belt Bradon Mence coming second in the under-60kg Senior men's grade in his comeback to the sport.

City College coach Gary Davies was also pleased with the efforts of the 19 members of his club who entered.

"Everyone medalled yesterday," he said on Sunday morning.

The highlights included Antoine Rahier winning the under-60kg grade for Junior men and Senior men.

Finn Brown, 17, earned medals in four divisions including Senior men, with two golds among them.

Also making a comeback to the sport, Andrew Kinchella shook off a three-to-four-year absence to stand out in the under-60kg Cadet men's grade.

Wayne Watson said Wanganui will also host the national training camp in February 2015, which will bring 100 of the top fighters in the country to the town.