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A Surrey judo squad training
session attracted two very special visitors recently as Commonwealth
Champion Sam Lowe and seven-time world medallist Karina Bryant
were guest coaches for the day at Croydon Judo Club.
The 2012 hopefuls, who
both train full-time at Camberley Judo Club, started their competitive
careers representing Surrey before progressing to national and
international success.
The Surrey County Committee
invited Sam Lowe to take a class at Croydon Judo Club to help
her raise money towards her Olympic pursuit after the -78kg judoka
was unable to meet funding criteria due to a run of injuries.
Surrey Judo President Alan
Rickard said: “The two players were delighted to return to their
roots to hold a session for the BJA Surrey County Squad.
“Due to injury Sam had
been unable to fulfil the criteria for financial support and hosting
this session enabled Surrey to present her with a much needed
donation towards her training fund. We said that all mat fees
would go to Sam and that as a county we’d match that.
“We had 55 judoka on the
mat and ended the session with young players lining up to show
their appreciation and ask for photos and autographs from the
two stars.”
Sam Lowe said: “My good
friend and club colleague Karina Bryant offered to help me out
and for me to use her name to hopefully attract more numbers to
the session which was very kind of her.
“As w e lined up ready
for the bow and Surrey County Chairwoman Sheila Hearsey made a
nice speech and thanked me and Karina for our support and I was
presented with my donation.
“Everyone was so supportive
and genuinely seemed to enjoy the training and appreciate us being
there, even though really they were doing me the favour. It was
a pleasure and an honour to be back after so many years away from
the squad.”
For more information on
Sam Lowe’s Olympic journey and to sponsor her please visit http://samanthalowe2012.wordpress.com/
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