Two Wanganui City College judo club members have brought back silverware from the 2013 Oceania Judo Union Continental competition in Cairns, Australia, over the weekend.
Antoine Rahier flew back with a silver medal in the junior men's under-60kg division, while Dylan Leney emulated his performance in last year's Oceania competition,also held in Cairns, by claiming bronze in the cadet men's under-66kg division. Both hold brown belts.
Coach Garry Davies said it was the second Oceania competition for both players and they had acquitted themselves well against fighters from Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa and Tahiti.
Leney, who travels to City College judo from Palmerston North for coaching and training, and Rahier fought on both days of the weekend competition, in the cadets men's and junior men's weight divisions.
"Dylan fought his way through to the medal rounds winning the bronze medal in his grade, while Antoine made amends for a disappointing day on Saturday by beating the number one-ranked Australian to earn a place in the finals of the junior men's under-60kg weight division, where he went on to win silver and that showed commitment,' Davies said.
"Both results were really good at that level and I have hopes for higher honours for both guys. They are too young for the next Commonwealth or Olympic Games, but they will be ready one day. Antoine is 17 and Dylan is 15," he said.
Meanwhile, Wanganui Judo Club fighter Aidan Voice, a blue belt, showed his greenness at his first Oceania competition in the cadet men's under-90kg division.
Coach Wayne Watson watched a live-streamed telecast of his bout on the internet.
"He was going quite well before making a mistake that his opponent jumped on and beat him. But it was his first Oceania, so great experience - he's only 15," Watson said.
