The Premier League for Sport Judo program funded by Newcastle United Foundation recently had success at the Newburn Judo Club Mini Mons Regional Judo Championships held at Newburn Activity Centre.

Newcastle United Foundation have been supporting the Gymnastics for Judo initiative for the last six months with funding they receive from the Premier League, since the sessions started on a Sunday morning the club has seen over 25 girls and boys aged from 9 – 15 years old take part.

Abbie Thompson, 12, the gymnast

The sessions were run by judo coach Joe Laws who wanted to see if the elite Gymnastics at Newburn could transfer their skills to the judo mats with the emphasis being on getting girls and boys interested in judo and eventually getting them to make the transition to Newburn Judo Club.

Six of the girls who attend on a weekly basis recently took part in the Mini Mons competition which attracted over 100 Judo players from the region. All had an excellent event as bronze medals went to Georgia Morrow and Rachael Forster, silver medals went to Sophie Benfield and Ellie Musgrove and gold Medals went to Hannah Musgrove and Abbie Thompson.

Abbie Thompson, 2012 Mini Mon gold medallist judoka

Joe Laws said: “I am thrilled at the progress the girls have made in such a short space of time, they already had fantastic discipline from their gymnastic backgrounds and along with their other qualities such as strength and suppleness they have picked up judo very quickly which has been proved by them winning medals.”

If you are interested in Gymnastics for Judo please contact Joe Laws at Newburn Activity Centre on 01912640014