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Winchester University student
and judoka Emma Chamberlain has been nominated for Winchester
District Council’s Sportswoman of the Year Award.
Emma was nominated by Winchester
University Students Union for her work with the University’s newly-formed
judo club and her outstanding competitive achievements for them.
The standout claimed the
University’s first BUCS Championship gold medal this year while
maintaining her sports coaching and studies.
University club coach Marc
Thompson said: “Emma is a classic example of the benefits of the
BJA University initiative, having started judo at 14 in a school
club, before moving to Pinewood where she trained under Don Warner,
she had some success at a junior level and at 18 stopped doing
judo as she had a gap year before going to university.
"It was only when
Peter Beard the BJA Development Officer helped set up a club at
Winchester University that Emma, in her second year of study,
came back on the mat.”
Training under Marc Thompson,
Emma found herself falling in love with judo again, winning gold
medals at several events, before gaining her brown belt in March
this year, and within six week she had 120 points to her Dan grade.
She was elected University Captain, and recently gained her 1st
Dan, and completed an instructors course.
Peter Beard, British Judo’s
South East Development Officer, said: “Emma is a very proactive
Captain in the University Club and she balances that well with
her final year studies and also her own training.
"Emma goes out to
clubs like Camberley, Bath and Gosport to train as well as working
as a support coach in several local clubs and schools, this nomination
is well deserved.“
Emma has lead the University
Judo club into its second year with a healthy membership and is
currently working on her UKCC level two and supporting judo coaches
in a number of local clubs and schools.
Jonny Brason, Student Union
Vice President for Participation and Development, said: “Emma
was a natural choice for nomination, it is through the efforts
of people like Emma that Universities and Winchester in particular
have a thriving sports community both in within the student population
but also integrated in to the wider community. Emma represents
the sport of judo and Winchester Student Union to the highest
standard on the regional and national stage. We hope she does
well, she deserves it.”
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