Southend International

Today I went out almost before it was daylight and came home in the dark. The event I was attending was the Southend International judo competition in which both Oliver and Victoria were taking part. Although their weigh-in was mid-morning, we went early so that younger members of their club could be supported and cheered on.

Oliver was due to fight at 1300 hours, but it was almost 1400 hours before he did so. Victoria was on the same mat (there were six mats) after Oliver’s competition. Oliver fought for the bronze medal in his group, of about nine I think, but lost the bronze medal fight so did not get a medal, but gained good experience. Victoria was fighting in two groups and also fought for the bronze medal in her first group. She then had to fight immediately afterwards on another mat gaining a silver medal. They both fought very well and we are very proud of them. It was a big International competition with many players from Europe; their club came away with three silver medals, from six players in seven categories. Today the competition continues with Oliver fighting again, although he is up against brown and black belts, all higher-level belts than him. Victoria did all her competitions yesterday so she can just cheer on Oliver and the other two players from their club.

It was hard to decide which picture to choose today as I took pictures of all of their fights, about two hundred. In the end I chose this one, which shows not only Oliver winning this fight, but also Victoria and Jake, her boyfriend leaning on the rail behind the mat as well as Sam, (Jake’s twin) who was at mat level, to support Oliver. Oliver’s coach is also in the picture and is the one in red, sitting, who looks as though she is about to get her face kicked as Oliver throws his opponent. Photograph exactly as taken, including the back of the referee. The scoreboard shows the score at this point; this was the final throw by Oliver, which won him the fight with an Ippon. The rest of the pictures will go on my Flickr account at some point.


Update: Sunday 26 October - 1400 hours. There were twelve in Oliver's group, he got bronze, very well done Oliver.