Royston-based judo club excel at recent event

JM JUDOKWAI, the Judo club based in Royston, enjoyed a medal-winning weekend at the recent North London Area event held in Alexandra Park.

A 13-strong party headed to the event, and there was no shortage of inspiring performances with a haul of two gold, three silver and eight bronze medals won.

Sean Tyrell won gold in the Primary Boys’ U25 kilogram category, where he was by far the most skilful and came out on top with all Ippon throws.

The club had to wait for later in the day for their next gold medal, and it came from senior member Jack Howes, who won all of his bouts with several Ippon throws which proved devastating.

The silver medals went to members at the opposite end of the age spectrum with Doug Spencer – the eldest member at the club – fending off stiff competition to earn his second place.

But one of the performances of the day came from fellow silver medallist, and the considerably younger, Maggie Tyrell who gave a battling performance in her bout against St Albans JC’s Hannah Niven, who won by the narrowest of margins.

The pleasant surprise for the club was the emergence of Archie Spencer who showed brave and battling qualities to earn the silver after coming just short in his pool.

The rest of the team Luke Saltmarsh, Adam Hughes, Alistair Snow, Jack Pack, Murrun Spencer, Patrick Tyrell and Alfie & Archie Massman-Brown all earned bronze medals with a fine show of technique throughout.

JM’s chief instructor, Danny Anderson, was delighted with his team and says they have a bright future in the sport.

“I could not have asked for any more from any of the members competing, to a person they were magnificent,” Anderson said.

“At the rate our members are progressing, watch out Junior National Championships in May – JM Judo is on its way!”