More medals for Glossop Judo Club fighters

30 September 2008

Glossop Judo Club’s Eric Ham continued clocking up the air miles last weekend travelling over to Poland for the Warsaw Judo Open.

Held at the impressive Kolo Sports Centre, this strong boys event attracted top junior competitors from some of Europe's strongest judo nations.

Boys from Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Belgium, Germany, Belarus, Czech Republic, Great Britain and the host nation Poland made this one of the strongest events on the judo calender.

Boys were split into normal judo age categories of under 13, 15, 17 and 20. Many boys were competent enough to enter two age groups and Eric (pictured) entered both the boys under 13 and 15 age groups.

Fighting in the under 15 section on Saturday Eric was using this more as a warm up for his main event on Sunday, however Eric produced by far his best judo of the weekend, against these older boys, and came away with a brilliant third place and a well deserved bronze medal.

After such a display on Saturday Eric reached Sunday’s Under 13 final with ease despatching all four of his opponents with some fine judo techniques.

His final was against one of the boys he had easily beaten in his second fight. This should have been an easy win and gold medal for the Glossop fighter but for a shoulder injury Eric had picked up late on in his semi-final match.

Although fighting well Eric lost out but was more than happy with a good Silver medal from such a competition.

Also fighting closer to home over the weekend were Judy Browne, Ryan Phillips and Rhiannon Baldwin. Judy and Ryan fought in Bradford and both brought back well earned silver medals to the club whilst Rhiannon won another Gold medal over in Kidderminster.

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