LAST weekend players from both UUC and UUJ Judo Clubs travelled to this year's All Ireland Universities Championship (Intervarsity) in Maynooth County Meath.
Coach Richard Briggs reports that the group returned with no less than 10 medals. In the inter-college team event the UU three women team finished a well deserved second place to Tralee, giving them the silver medal. The three women team was Amy Stea
rs, Catherine Morris and Laura McShane.
The star the individual competition was black belt and 1st year architecture student Amy Stears who won a gold medal in the under 52kg category and a bronze in the Open weight event despite her lightweight stature. Orange belt Laura McShane came through with a well deserved bronze in the under 52kg category, having been defeated earlier by Amy Stears and a bronze in the middle Kyu (up to green belt) competition.
Postgraduate student Catherine Morris had some convincing wins in the lower Kyu where she finished third. In the over 71kg events Catherine narrowly lost in the final to take the silver medal. Although the men's team were knocked out of the competition early due to a poor draw, Kingsley Hepburn gave a display of skilful judo in the individual under 66kg competition to win a bronze medal.
Other judo news from the Coleraine Judo Club came recently from the Northern Ireland trials where Stephen Cuckoo, Mathew Scott and Rebecca Cuckoo secured places on the Nothern Ireland Senior Squad. Although the Club continues to thrive newcomers are always welcome to this popular Olympic combat sport which caters for competition, exercise and fun whilst building self confidence and a sense of wellbeing.
Club times are Juniors (7-14 years) 7.30pm to 8.30pm and Seniors (15+) 8.30pm to 9.30pm. The club caters for all fitness levels and judo knowledge. For Senior players (18+) the UUC Club meet on Monday evenings in the UUC Sports Centre at 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
