He believed it was the second time that award had gone to a Gisborne Judo Club (GJC) member — Joy Williams was the other.
Kelso’s promotion to black belt was a result of her competing in the kata (done in pairs) section of the champs.
Auckland University student Kelso and Matthew Wong (Howick) won their class and Kelso’s 68 percent score surpassed the
65 percent needed to earn black belt status.
“It’s the 22nd black belt I’ve produced since taking over from Dad (Dave) in 1996; he produced 17,” King said.
He was rapt with the performances of the 18-strong GJC team.
“Once you win a national title, your name goes on our honours board. It’s always nice to come home and put new names on the board.”
Among those was James McKenzie, who led a Gisborne trifecta in the junior boys’ under-45kg weight division.
“We’ve done that a few times in the past,” King said. “As a coach you hope none of them miss out (on medals), and it worked out right, with James beating Reef Mullooly in the final and Noah Atkins getting the bronze,” King said.
Alex Mackay was another to earn a first NZ crown — in the senior girls’ u63kg.
“She’s had a great year. She won the North Island champs and the South Island champs. This topped it off.”
King said Mackay was determined to get her name on the honours board and join her brothers Theo and Liam.
Capping a great champs for the Mackay family, father John won gold in the over-90kg veteran men’s 50-to-59yr class.
Cleo Parkin, fast following in the footsteps of Andrews and Kelso, won gold at the nationals for the fourth consecutive year. She added the cadet women’s u63kg title to her three senior girls’ successes.
Eva May Beets was another golden performer.
“She’s only new to the sport — she’s not done a lot of competitions — but she picked up a silver in her weight class (junior girls’ over-36kg) and we put her in the junior open (class) and she won that,” King said.
Proud father Daniel, taught as a kid by King, was on hand to see his daughter triumph.
Johan Jacobs, who along with Gary McKenzie helps King at the club, won two gold medals. Jacobs won the u73kg weight class of veteran men’s 40-49yr age group uncontested and was given the opportunity to go up a weight category. He and McKenzie, competing at their first nationals, met in the u81kg class and Jacobs won.
GJC medallists at NZ champs
Alex Mackay: Gold in senior girls’ u63kg; bronze in senior girls’ open.
Amelia Gibb: Silver in senior girls 63+kg; silver in senior girls’ open
Noah Gibb: Bronze in junior boys’ u32kg.
Sarah Gibb: Silver in junior girls’ u28kg.
Malachi Whitley: Bronze in junior boys’ open.
Mitchell Spriggs: Bronze in senior boys’ u50kg
James McKenzie: Gold in junior boys’ u45kg; silver in junior boys’ open.
Reef Mullooly: Silver in junior boys’ u45kg .
Noah Atkins: Bronze in junior boys’ u45kg.
Eva-May Beets: Silver in junior girls’ 36+kg ; gold in junior girls’ open.
Tanner Feisst: Bronze in junior boys’ u28kg.
Johan Jacobs: Gold in veteran men’s 40-49yrs u73kg (uncontested); gold in veteran men’s 40-49yrs u81kg.
Gary McKenzie: Silver in veteran men’s 40-49yrs u80kg.
John Mackay: Gold in veteran men’s 50-59yrs 90+kg.
Cleo Parkin: Gold in cadet women’s u63kg; silver in cadet women’s open.
Ella Kelso: Silver in junior women’s u70kg; gold in nage-no-kata (partnered with Matthew Wong of Howick).
