Gleaming haul augurs well for nationals

Antoine Rahier was one of four gold medallists for the Wanganui City College Judo Club at the North Island Championships in Gisborne at the weekend. Teammate Sione Walker won two. PHOTO/FILE

Wanganui judo players tossed and flipped their way to 19 medals, including five gold, at the North Island Judo Championships in Gisborne at the weekend.

Fighters from the Wanganui Judo Club and the City College Club represented the River City and despite a slightly depleted senior grade, with several of the country's top players on international duty, the results augured well for the New Zealand Championships coming up in Wellington next month.

All five gold medals were won by City College players - Garry Davies (u90kg senior grade), Sione Walker (junior men over 100kg and restricted kyu), Dylan Leney 9cadet men (u73kg) and Antoine Rahier (cadet men u60kg).

Walker also won bronze in the junior men open weight division, while Leney stepped up to the junior ranks for a silver in the u73kg grade.

The medal haul from the City College Club totalled 11, while the Wanganui club clinched eight, including six silver and two bronze with Kasey Watson narrowly missing out on gold in the open weight senior boys.

Coach and proud dad Wayne Watson said his son led throughout the bout until the last 40 seconds, when a Wellington fighter he had trained specifically to beat clipped him to take the title in the dying stages.

"I felt for him, really," Watson senior said yesterday.

"He had trained really hard for this bout and it was a scalp he wanted, but only just lost out in the last 40 seconds. Kasey was pretty happy with silver, though. However, the results of all Wanganui players, including City College, is a great and augurs well for the nationals in Wellington in October, although we know it will be tough competition there," Watson said.

City College results

SENIOR MEN

Garry Davies - gold u90kg

JUNIOR MEN

Sione Walker - gold over 100kg, gold restricted Kyu, bronze open

Liam Goodhall - bronze u81kg

Dylan Leney - silver u73kg

Finn Brown - bronze u66kg

CADET MEN

Liam Goodhall - silver u81kg

Finn Brown - silver u66kg

Dylan Leney - gold u73kg

Antoine Rahier - gold u60kg

Wanganui Judo Club results

Aiden Voice - silver, cadet mens open weight and junior men u90kg

Brierley Watson - silver, junior girls open weight

Grace Verhoek - silver, orange, green and blue belt senior women

Kasey Watson - silver, senior boys over 55kg and open weight

Kaightley Watson - bronze, senior boys over 55kg

Sam Scott-Page - bronze, junior boys over 36kg