The day kicked off with Nikki McDermott competing against girls much heavier than her. Despite throwing her German competitor with a massive O’Goshi, the Wazari score however didn’t hold out for the win as the German was able to counter another attack by Nikki, and she missed out on the final but still earned a Bronze medal.
Next up was the Level 2 -81kg category, where we had two British competitors, Kyle Jones and Sean Allen. Both boys performed well in the morning session, with Kyle advancing to the Bronze medal final and Sean fighting for Gold. Kyle was first to compete, winning Bronze with a great ippon. Sean’s final was a close fight; his opponent received a hansoku-make (penalty) for head diving, securing Sean the Gold medal.
Then it was over to Stanley Walker (“Stan the Man”). He secured his place in the final with an ippon over a much older opponent. The final was a tough fight, where Stanley fought hard but didn’t quite get the result he wanted, earning a well-deserved Silver medal though.
It was a tougher day for Mikey Lomas in the +90kg category—the largest category of the day. Despite being much lighter than his competitors, he delivered strong attacks. This time, it wasn’t his day, but his GB Coach, Matthew Rush couldn’t fault his effort.
In the Level 1 -81kg category with Chris Murphy and the -66kg category with Tom Mawdsley, both judoka delivered dominant performances, securing their places in the finals with spectacular ippons.
Tom’s final was an aggressive affair, requiring him to maintain his composure, but was rewarded when he took his opportunity to register a great ippon. His delight was a joy to see.
Chris’s final was the last for the British team. His opponent was the toughest of the day, but Chris remained patient throughout, seized his opportunity, and finished with a crowd-pleasing throw to win Gold.
Overall, the tournament was a very rewarding experience for the team. The crowd created an electric atmosphere, enhancing the prestige of this well-organised event. Every effort was made to make everyone feel special, and the photos, live stream, and media clips were great for those supporting from home.
GB Coaches Matt Rush and Katie McDermott were extremely proud of the entire GB team, and topping the medal table with 3 Golds, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronzes is a fantastic achievement.
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