Local judokas rack up medals at nationals - October 2015

IT WAS ON for young and old at the 2015 National Judo Championships held in Tauranga from the members of Wanganui's two clubs.

Held last weekend, the nationals saw Wanganui City College Judo's standout Antoine Rahier pick up the gold medal in the under 60kg junior men's while getting silver in the same weight class for senior men.

Coming out of retirement as the oldest competitor in his grade, Wanganui Judo Club's Wayne Watson took home the gold for masters over 60.

At the other end of the spectrum, Wanganui Judo first-timer Marshall Little-Fair won silver in the junior under 28kg.

The medals kept coming from City College Judo on the Saturday as WHS student Finn Brown won silver in the under 73kg junior men's grade then bronze in the open weight.

Liam Goodhall won silver in the under 90kg junior men's class while the former WHS students Kinchella brothers - Andrew and Jack - won bronze in the junior men's under 66kg and under 73kg divisions respectively.

Wanganui Judo's Kasey Watson won bronze in the under 81kg cadet men's grade.

Moving on to Sunday and City College's Kaleb Glen won the bronze medal in the senior boys under 60kg.

Garry Davies (WCC) and Shaun Walton (Wanganui Judo) competed in the kata competition, winning a silver and bronze medal for the kime-no-kata: a self-defence form of judo using specific techniques.

(Wanganui Chronicle 23/10/15)