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Bexley primary school
pupils gained unrivalled access to the sport of judo as 2012 hopefuls
and former Olympians gathered at the British Judo Performance
Institute in Dartford to host the third annual school judo festival
on 24 September.
The elite training centre,
which hosted the sport’s leading fighters at the first ever Olympic
training camp in April, saw 130 children from eight schools attend
the festival which was run by the Hurstmere School Sport Partnership.
The 2012 Olympic training
venue, which also houses Dartford Judo Club, was again at hand
for an unforgettable afternoon of expertly delivered judo, breathtaking
demonstrations and inspirational talks.
Pupils from Old Bexley,
Pelham, Fosters, Longlandis as well as Birbeck, Days Lane, Hillsgrove
and East Wicham primary schools have all staged judo in the form
of before school sessions for at least six weeks.
The children were divided
into four teams and worked through four stations which were named
after cities that have previously staged the Olympic Games.
At each ‘city’ the youngsters
learned a different skill from a number of London Area coaches
and special guest coach Gemma Gibbons, the highly-touted Charlton
judoka who captured a silver at the GB World Cup on Sunday.
The children were treated
to a dynamic display from Ford Judo Club’s emerging judoka Tom
Williams, who competed at the Junior European Championships in
September, and club colleague Dru Oaks.
Sophie Cox, who claimed
a bronze medal at the GB World Cup on Saturday, was next on the
mat as the two-time European Championships silver medallist and
2004 Athens Olympian, went through a riveting demonstration with
Bath University’s Judo Academy coach Yuko Nakano.
The festival was concluded
by a talk from three-time Olympian and British Judo Association
Chairman Densign White.
Danson Judo Club’s Gary
Wells, a prominent coach on the day, said: “ The festival is a
fantastic example of how a school sport partnership works with
local clubs, coaches and a National Governing Body.
“The day provides pupils
with opportunities to try a sport in a world-class Olympic training
facility, with highly qualified coaches and meeting inspirational
elite athletes, like Sophie Cox, Gemma Gibbons and the young British
players.”
Karen French, British Judo’s
London Development Manager, was delighted with how the day unfolded.
“Once again there was some
excellent work on display by the elite players, coaches and everyone
involved in the event as well as the pupils who were fantastic
throughout,” said the former judoka.
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