Masterton fighters snatch medal haul

Masterton Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy fighters who were awarded medals at the weekend included Nathan Crombie, left, George Robinson, Simon Ogden, Stuart Harvey and Sean Stafford. PHOTO/BONNY FAIRBROTHER

FIGHTERS at the Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy have again returned with a clutch of medals from a regional championship.

Academy founder and lead instructor Simon Ogden said a haul of eight medals - four gold, three silver and a bronze - was taken by academy judoka in free fighting known as shiai across a range of weight, grade and age divisions at the North Wellington Open Championships held at the International Pacific College in Palmerston North on Saturday.

"It was a fantastic weekend. Especially given that we had some fighting for the first time and some fighting in only their second tournament -- and again it was not so much about the medals but more about putting it out on the mat," he said.

"It's just fronting up when you first start fighting, more than anything else and, sometimes, it's more difficult just to pluck up the courage to get on the mat, than it is to actually fight."

The victories on Saturday come after academy fighters won three gold and three silver medals in kata -- demonstration patterns of judo techniques -- and shiai, at the two-day Wellington Judo Open Competition held at Kapiti College over Anzac weekend.

Ogden, who was awarded gold at the Anzac tournament, won bronze in the masters men open but received a shoulder injury during a bout and was put out of contention in the masters men over 90kg.

Academy fighter Sean Stafford, in his second competitive bid, was awarded gold in the masters men over 90kg and also won gold in the masters men open, while Stuart Harvey in his second tournament took silver in the masters men open.

Nathan Crombie, in his debut competitive outing, was awarded gold in the masters men under 73kg and George Robinson won a silver medal in the cadet men under 66kg division, after he was awarded gold at the Anzac Day tournament.

Masterton fighter James Crawley took a gold medal in the junior boys and bronze in the open junior boys at Palmerston North and judoka Sam Clegg took silver in the senior boys division.

Fellow academy fighters Vinnie Morris, who went in to the contest with a long-standing injury, and Ernie Park, missed out on placing in the senior men under 73kg division despite Park giving several far heavier fighters, including New Zealand representatives, "a real run for their money".

Ogden said the contest had been a masters qualifying round for the Kiwi squad that will contest the annual Oceania Judo Union championship next year, and academy judoka might also join battle at other upcoming competitions.

"I'm hoping we will have fighters in the New Zealand open or Waikato open because the guys are just starting to get confidence."