Members of Dartford Judokwai have been enjoying a prurple patch of success during several recent tournaments.

At the Junior National finals, held at Crystal Palace, boys and girls from all over the United Kingdom competed in the two-day tournament.

The British Judo Association splits the UK into nine areas with each submitting a squad to represent them.

Dartford Judokwai had six of its members in the Southern Area team, as well as another five who use the facilities at the club on Thursdays for their high quality training sessions.

The club is recognised as being one of six with elite status where judoists can receive extra training under the expert coaching of Alan Roberts.

Paul Cooper was one of the Dartford club members representing the Southern Area team, which was dominated by Great Britain cadets.

It was his first time he had been selected for this championship and although he did not win a medal, he won two of his four fights.

Naomi James, Paul's cousin, was in great form by winning gold in her weight category.

Emma Delaney is one of the British Judo Association's "World Class" performers and justified her position by winning gold in her class.

Katy Delaney, Emma's younger sister, went into the event with high hopes after winning a gold in a championshp in Europe and in a highly competitive section, Kate won bronze.

Elisabeth Welsh, Gemma Gibbons and Carley Bertram all won golds, while Alison Wills and Sophie Johnson took silvers.

Lauren, Carley's sister, ensured there a double celebration in the Bertram household by winning bronze.

And to complete a great tournament, Adam Bick, who regularly competes for Great Britain, won a silver medal.

Meanwhile, Dartford's girl members were also in great form in the Cadet International, held in Goirle, Belgium.

Around 300 girls from across Europe entered the event in which each country selects its best player for each weight group with five members of Dartford were selected for Great Britain.

Katy Delaney, who is 15, fought in the under-57kg section of the under-17 class, and on her way to winning gold she defeated the current European Olympic Youth champion by maximum points.

Gemma Gibbons attends Dartford as part of the World Class performance training programme, and she competed in the under-70kg class of the under-17 event

despite being only 14!

But the age difference proved no barrier as Gemma won gold by beating the

German No.1 ranked fighter in the final.

Elisabeth Welsh and Alison Wills are both Dartford members who are in full-time training at the prestigious three-year prgramme at Bisham Abbey, organised by the British Judo Assocation, where the elite are moulded into potential Olympic class competitors.

Elisabeth won gold in her category, while Alison took bronze.

Naomi James, who is 16 and has been a Dartford member for many years, is a brown-belt and competes regularly for Great Britain.

She was in a highly competitive division and came a creditable seventh.

Last, but certainly not least, were three club members who took part in the Clacton Championship.

For this two-day event, fighters enter as individuals rather than represanting a club. The dedicated trio train up to three times during the week and also at weekends when preparing for this type of event.

For 10-year-old Dean Stirling, it was only his second competition outside the Dartford club. He did not make the podium but gained valuable experience as well as a competitors' medal to reward him for his effort and commitment.

Jade Young, who is nine and has previously represented the Kent girls' squad which took gold, won five of her six bouts this time to take home a well deserved

silver medal.

Justin Gould, also nine, earned his place in the Kent boys' squad and recently achieved recognition for his 100 per cent attendance at school. He won four of his five bouts at Clacton to claim a bronze medal.

If you would to join or find out more details on Dartford Judokwai Club, call Alan Roberts on 07956 917576.

December 24, 2001 11:00