South Brent Judo Club

March is proving another busy month for South Brent Judo Club players, who have been training and competing all over the country and beyond.

Players demonstrated their technical skills and judo knowledge brilliantly at a recent club grading ­session, with four players achieving the next level.

Lara Butler progressed from third to fourth mon, Toby Parker moved from eighth to 10th mon, Kiya Butler from ninth to 10th mon and Zoe Butler earned her 12th mon.

Sisters Zoe and Kiya Butler also fought at the Southern Open in Crawley on Sunday, March 11, and both came home with ­stunning silvers. Kiya showed great determination in her first competition back since injury. Zoe, meanwhile, won four fights confidently and secured a place in the final, which she lost narrowly.

Plymstock School’s Max Gregory had the honour of being one of only 10 ­players to represent England at the Cadet European Cup in Zagreb, Croatia, on March 11. The competition and training camp ran over four days, with representatives from many European nations.

Max fought in the highly competitive U90kg category. He had a bye and then won his second contest decisively by ippon. Max narrowly lost his third fight against the number-one seeded player in the group. An impressive result for Max, with two wins and a loss in his first Euro Cadet Cup.

Max will be representing England at the Bremen Euro Cup in Germany on Saturday, March 24, alongside clubmate Lewis Widdicombe of Ivybridge Community College, who will be competing in the U81kg junior category.

The Bremen Cup is a high-level event attended by some of the top players in the world, including the Japanese.

Max and Lewis have a busy time ahead, with Max competing in the Berlin Euro Cadet Cup and Lewis fighting at the Junior Euro Cup in Italy next month.

Maddox Callard was the sole SBJC judoka to fight at the British Schools Championship at the EIS Arena, Sheffield, on Sunday, March 18. Maddox joined 750 pupils from more than 400 schools at the prestigious event.

Maddox proudly ­represented Kingsbridge Community College in the Year 6/7 U46kg category, winning one fight and losing two, and showing great skill and determination.

For more information on the club’s activities, look visit the website at south brentjudoclub.weebly.com.