Judo Mon Grading Examination Organized by Global Sports
The 10th of March saw Global Sports hold
one of their biggest events of the year, the grading day for white, yellow,
orange and green belts at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
In order to ensure fairness in the fights, the kids
were split into 5 divisions. This was done according to current grade and age.
Each division was split further into smaller groups of a similar weight, to
avoid David and Goliath type matches.
First up were the light weight white belts. For most
players this was their first experience of a judo competition, so there were
lots of nerves on show. This did not stop some good judo performances from
everyone. The winner of the first group in this division was
Alasdair Agha from Hong Kong International School. In group 2 Theo
Chapman from Kennedy School took the gold medal. Finlay
Field of Hong Kong Cricket Club in group 3 beat all his opponents to take
first place. In group 4 Wouter Thijssen from Hong
Lok Yuen International school came out on top. In the final group of this
division Bradbury Junior School's Jean-Marc Nosbusch
went home with the gold medal. This grading saw the introduction of an award for
most improved player of the season, this will hopefully spur the kids on and to
keep up the hard work. In division 1 the most improved players were Sebastien
Stitch of Quarry Bay School and Matthew Taylor of
Hong Kong International School.
Next it was time for the older white and yellow
belts. There were only groups here but again there was some good judo from the
players. Most of these players had competed before so new what to expect. In
group 1 Benjamin Anthony Smith of Hong Kong
International School claimed first place. Also from the same school Bobby
Modarelli took gold in group 2. In the final group Lukas
Marion Metzger from German Swiss International School also won the gold
medal.
The best improved players from this division were Armand
Gautama of Kennedy School and Philip Mark Henes
of Hong Kong Football Club.
Division 3 was for yellow belt player aged 8 and
under. Although still young, all these players had been at a grading before and
were determined to as well as or better then their previous attempt. From the
first of the four groups in this division it was Charles
Knox of American Club to win gold, follow by Michael
Coverdale of Hong Kong Football Club to win gold. Kowloon Cricket Club
took their first gold medal of the day when Ella Cowie
won the category. The last gold medal in this division was won by Jason
Lui from Bradbury Junior School.
Daniel O'Connor of
Clearwater Bay School and Max Wang of American Club
being awarded most improved players.
Due to a smaller number of entrants in division 4
only gold and silver medals were awarded, there were no bronze medals as in the
previous divisions. This meant that there was no room for mistakes. Again there
were four groups, the first group being won by Ian Michael
Etheridge of Bradbury Junior School. In the next group Hong Kong
International School representative Brandon Lay
fought his way to first place. French International School had a gold medal to
celebrate when Sebastien Vandenheste came out on
top. Toby, Ng Kai Sing from Yeun Wo Road Judo Club
won the last group in this category to take home his gold medal prize.
Melvin Silas Metzger
from German Swiss International School was voted most improved player in this
section.
The final division of the day was for the older and
more experienced orange belt and the green belts take to the mat. This division
saw some good hard and aggressive judo from the players. In group 1 Teo
d'Auriol of Hong Kong International school over came his category with
some impressive throws to win gold.
In groups 2, 3 and 4 Alexander
Nellist, Daniel Wyatt and John
Crowcroft all of Kowloon Cricket Club won their respective groups to make
it a good day for them.
Ruarai Farquar of
Clearwater Bay School and Brennan C.Y. Leung and Reynold
Li both of Kennedy School were awarded best-improved players.
After a great day it was time for the players and
staff alike to go home and reflect on the day.
Well done to all the competitors who took part and
made it a special day for all.