Brothers throw weight about in Oz - February 2016

TRANSTASMAN TRIUMPH: Whanganui's judo brothers Callaghan (left) and Keightley Watson won medals at the ACT International Judo tournament recently. Here they are joined by Mark Brewer, the Sydney-based member of the New Zealand OJU Continental Cup team, who coached the Watsons in Canberra.

WHANGANUI judo siblings Keightley and Callaghan Watson have just returned from a successful raid of Australian gold and silver.

The Wanganui Judo Club brothers were competing for New Zealand at the two-day ACT International Judo Tournament in Tuggeranong, on the outskirts of Canberra.

Father Ross Watson said the international meet was Australia's second biggest judo championships behind their nationals, which were not open to Kiwi fighters.

WHS student Keightley Watson, 14, now competing in the cadet boys 90+kg division, came up against some strong opposition in his weight group, but went through the competition unbeaten to take gold.

Ten-year-old Callaghan Watson, who won silver at the Sydney International last September, backed that up with another silver in the junior boys 50+kg division.

Both fighters were fortunate to have the coaching services of Mark Brewer, a current member of the New Zealand Oceania Judo Union (OJU) team who now lives in Sydney.

The brothers will now focus on the upcoming New Zealand area tournaments in preparation for the 2016 Sydney International, to be held at Olympic Park in September.

They will be joined by older cousin Casey Watson, who will fight in the cadet boys under 81kg grade.