Lancashire County Championships

Fifteen Burnley Judo Club players, both junior and senior, competed in the recent Lancashire County Championships 2004, in Shadsworth, Blackburn. Connah Stockdale was first up for the local club. Displaying his usual cool-headed approach, this tremendous young prospect won all of his matches to take a well-deserved Gold medal. In her first ever competition, Ashleigh Williamson clean threw all of her opponents, her first fight lasting only four seconds, to also take the Gold medal. Another debutant, Katie Rowbotham, went one better than her team-mate by winning her first fight in three seconds! Katie went on to clean throw all of her opponents and take another Gold medal for the Burnley club. Daniel Williamson was another player in fine form to win two of his three fights to claim the Silver medal position. James Mottershead and Liam Demaine both fought very well on the day in very tough sections, but were unlucky to finish just out of the medals in their respective groups. Keith Briers, another excellent prospect in the sport, came through some very hard fights to win the Silver medal in his group.

Ben Cunliffe, adopting a good mental attitude, emerged from his weight group with a well-merited Silver medal. Luke Taylor continues to progress in the sport as his Silver medal indicates, after coming through a very difficult group. Andrew Moorhead also had a good day at the competition by emerging with the Bronze medal for his valiant efforts. Last up for the Burnley juniors was Stacey Cummings, who equalled her efforts of last year in this competition by winning the Silver medal again, with all of her fights going the distance, in a very hard group.

In what proved to be a very difficult senior section overall, Chris Cummings (Jnr) was first up for the Burnley club and emerged with the Bronze medal from his weight group. Alex Green continues to excel in competitive judo, powering his way to a well-deserved Silver medal. Chris Cummings (snr) won the Gold medal in his weight group, but was pushed all the way in the final by team-mate and competition debutant Paul Turner, who emerge with an excellent Silver medal. Alex Green also fought in the .Open Weight. category on the day. The Burnley powerhouse produced some excellent judo to merit a brilliant Silver medal in this most difficult of sections.

From a total of fifteen Burnley players that competed in the event, the local club produced four Gold, seven Silver and two Bronze medals in what is, traditionally, a very good event for the club.

C. Cummings. March 2004