Judokas show their mettle

Wanganui's judo clubs returned from the East Coast Championships with quite a haul of medals between them after the weekend.

Held in Hastings, the championships represented the first hitout of the year in preparation for both the North Island and national championships, while a couple of the top exponents are also preparing for the Oceania Judo Championships in Cairns, Australia.

Hastings also witnessed a number of first-timers from Wanganui make their mark in the various tournament divisions.

For Wanganui City College, gold was claimed by Dylan Leney (cadets under 66kg) as well as rookies Matthew Leith (junior boys under 24kg) and Angus Dalgleish (junior boys under 32kg).

While he was more interested in deflecting praise to his students, coach Garry Davies also won gold in the Masters open weight.

In addition, Leney claimed a bronze in the junior men's under 66kg, while another first timer in Glynn Whittaker took the silver after Leith in junior boys under 24kg.

Antoine Rahier earned two silvers (cadet men's and junior men's under 60kg), while Finn Brown also won bronze in the junior men's under 60kg.

Davies said the Cairns-bound Leney and Rahier have "got a bit of work to do". "It was a good hitout for them for the first competition of the year.

"It was a good sounding board to see where they were at."

Wanganui Judo Club enjoyed similar success with nine medals.

Gold was struck by Aiden Voice (men's 81kg plus), also off to Cairns, as well as Keightley Watson (senior boys 55kg plus).

Voice and Watson also won bronze in the open men's and open senior boy's divisions respectively.

Daniel Watson took silver in the junior men's under 90kg and bronze in the junior men's open.

Brierley Watson finished with silver (junior girls 36kg plus), while bronze came from Arran Gilbertson (senior boys under 40kg) and Sam Pages (36kg plus).

Coach Wayne Watson also singled out rookie Grace Verhoek, who just missed a medal but as an orange belt accounted for blue and brown belt opponents.