After a two-year break from our Judo League Competition, we returned on Saturday with our re-launched Grand Prix Kingsley Judo League competition which took place in our Sports Hall.

Round 1 was a successful experience for our young judoka who all displayed huge potential for the future as the season runs over 4 rounds during the year.

We haven’t been able to arrange this event since before the pandemic took hold, so it was particularly exciting as most of our newcomers to judo were experiencing this event for the first time.

The league event is open to all our Kingsley pupils as well as the Community Club groups, and for the first time we were joined by members from our new satellite club in Bude.

The competition is set within a foundation level and supports a stepping stone from our club sessions into a more competitive environment, while our older judoka also take part by being officials and helping the younger judoka enjoy the experience.

On Saturday we combined our league with a grading seminar in the morning and then our Annual Awards in the afternoon after the league, again it was the first time we have been able to host our celebration awards ceremony since covid.

The league event attracted a good number of children who all fought with great courage, showing lots of determination, and more importantly showing wonderful sportsmanship.

In the under 8 category Oliver Yorke won a double gold in both the lightweight and middle weight groups, while his brother Ethan Yorke won gold in the heavier group. Silver medals went to Yr 3 Kingsley pupil Ben Barnett in the middle weight group, Franco Di Georgio and Louis Warner, with bronze medals being won by Lily Schofield and Fraser Giddy.

It was a winning brother and sister double gold medal performance from Kingsley pupils Harrison Yr 4 and Willow Bishop Yr 5, who both topped their groups following some tough challenges from Joseph Ellison who won the silver and Dylan St John the bronze medal in the boys group. Willow overcame a brilliant effort from Alice Palmer in the girl’s final, while Maisie Underwood won a bronze in her first ever league appearance.

Also making a gold medal debut performance in the league was Wren Compton who claimed maximum points taking gold, with a silver going to Nat Price and the bronze medals to Connie Warner and Maddox Lee in the lightweight division.

In the open weight group, gold was won by Jaden Smith who had to have a rematch with Kingsley’s Yr 7 pupil Jack Smith in the final to see who took the gold, which left Jack with a silver medal and Noah Aldridge a bronze.

In the more intermediate category Daisy Walters won the gold after a heroic contest with Oscar Yorke in the final, bronze medals went to Ethan Yorke and Harrison Bishop.

The event was a great success and all our young judoka showed lots of potential and enjoyed the opportunity to return to taking part in the Grand Prix once again.

We also award prizes on the day for the Throw of the Day, which was won by Wren, while Harrison won the prize for the Groundwork Move of the Day. While our Judo Values awards went to Jack, Connie and Maisie.

Following the results of all the contests, our early league joint leaders are Harrison and Wren who share top place with 140 pts.

The Kingsley School Judo Celebration Awards Results

John Davies Spirit of Judo Award – Freddie Horrocks

Kingsley Bude Spirit of Judo Award – Theo Mellor

Most Promising Newcomer Award – Oscar Yorke

Kano Class Achievement Award – Clementine Kelly

Under 8 Judoka of the Year Award – Ethan Yorke

Best Technician Award – Jaden Smith

Best Single Competition Performance – Amie McMurray

Outstanding Development Award – Alice Palmer

Judoka Best Attendance Award – Amie McMurray

Valued Club Contribution Award – Aaron Di Georgio

Kingsley Judo Personality of the Year Award – Gabriel Napier