A mix of raw talent and experience gave Wanganui judo exponents a high profile at the North Wellington Judo Area Open championships in Palmerston North at the weekend.
Players from both the Wanganui City College Judo Club and the Wanganui Judo Club - now affiliated with the Wanganui Martial Arts Centre - trekked south, returning home with a decent medal haul.
City College coach Gary Davies led by example securing gold in senior men's Under 90kg, grand masters Under 90kg and bronze in the senior men's open events.
Co-coach Matthew Gibson acquired bronze medals in senior men's Under 73kg and open events, while Antione Rahier grabbed gold in the Under 60kg and bronze in the open and Sione Walker gold medals in +100kg and Restricted Kyu open in the senior mens grade.
Wanganui Judo Club's Aiden Voice also shone, winning gold in the cadet men's open weight division and the junior men's Under 90kg and a silver in the junior men's open. Club mate Brierley Watson fought well to pocket golds in the +36kg junior girls division and the junior girls' open weight class.
First time City College competitor Amaan Merchant managed bronze in the Under 55kg, with Finn Brown silver in the Under 60kg, Seth Scrimshaw bronze in the Under 66kg, Dylan Leney gold in the Under 73kg, Liam Goodhall gold in Under 81kg and Walker gold in +100kg as well as junior men's open.
Wanganui Judo Club coach Wayne Watson said most of his team included first time newbies and the event gave them a great introduction to competitive competition.
"We are using these types of competition to prepare for the National Secondary Schools competition in Tauranga next month and ultimately the Auckland International and North Islands coming up later in the year," Watson said. "We've done the easy ones, but now each competition will get harder."
The North Wellington Area Open also gave Wanganui senior coach Graeme Culling the chance to upgrade to fourth dan black belt.
Others to shine at the weekend from the City College club included: Cadet men's first timer Liam Tucker gold in the under 50kg, Merchant silver in Under 55kg. Senior boys' competitor Kaleb Glenn secured gold in the Under 50kg event. Jack McDougall won silver in Under 24kg junior division.
Wanganui club competitors included: Kasey Watson, silver in the +55kg and open senior boys' events, Lochland Watson, bronze in the junior boys' open, Matthew Paa, bronze in the +90kg and open senior men, Noah Jones, bronze in the Under 24kg boys and Sam Scott-Page, silver in the +36kg boys and bronze in the junior boys' open.