Pictured above Kin Ryu’s winning squad: Kirstyn Chase, Peter Neave, Jane Neave, Joseph O’ Doherty, Andrew Robertson, Jack Thompson, David O Doherty, Scott Woods, Andrew Woods, Lauren Graves, Matthew Graves, James Rivers, Samuel Howarth-Moore, William Burke, Ellie Woods and Corlia Robertson and supporters Susannah Neave, Katherine Burke and Lia Thompson.

On Sunday, 14 Kin Ryu judo club juniors fought at the Sussex Trials held at Durrington Leisure Centre in Worthing.

The trials are a chance for fighters from across Sussex to try to gain a place on the 2010 Sussex Squad and a chance to represent their County at the Intercounties team event to be hosted this year by Kent.

Starting the day off was the girls in the U25 kgs, in this group Kin Ryu fighter Corlia Robertson found herself the lightest fighter of the day but still cruised though to take Gold and title of Sussex Champion in her group.

In the U32 kgs group Jane Neave was determined to better last year silver medal and started well winning her first fight easily with a superb throw.

Her second fight was against last years champion but Jane was determined to come out on top and after a hard fought contest Jane showed how far she’s come in a year beating her opponent and taking the Gold medal and title of Sussex Champion.

In the U40kg group Kin Ryu had fighters Kirstyn Chase and Lauren Graves who had to fight it out against one another for their medals as they both made the finals but it was Kirstyn who came out on top taking the Gold medal and title of Sussex Champion with Lauren taking third place and a bronze medal.

Rounding off the girls group was Ellie Woods in the U52kg group Ellie had a tough group but still battles her way through to take a bronze medal.

In the boys group the U27kgs title was hotly contested by 3 Kin Ryu players Joseph O’Doherty, William Burke and Samuel Howarth-Moore.

All three got off to a great start winning their first fights with impressive throws.

Joseph then continued to fight into the finals winning his next fight in under 10 seconds.

William and Samuel were unlucky not to win their next fight but William had done enough to secure himself a place in the final round, Sam finishing with a well deserved fifth.

In the final both boys fought hard winning their first fight but losing their second and resulted in Joseph finishing in second to take the silver medal with William finishing in third.

In the U34kg group Andrew Robertson also got off to a storming day coming through his pool in second place losing only to the eventual winner.

He was able to continue this winning streak in the final taking silver in what is renound as a tough weight group to medal in.

In the U38kg group David O’Doherty was going for his hatrick of golds at the Sussex trials winning at U30 and under 34kgs the previous 2 years.

He started well winning his pool in style with no fight lasting longer than 30 seconds.

In the second round David kept up this show of skill cruising undefeaten into the final.

This was to be his biggest teat of the day against an opponent currently ranked no 2 in GB, David put in a strong performance but was caught in the dying seconds of the fight but finished with a well deserved silver medal.

In the U42kg group Peter Neave was fighting to improve on his third place medal from last year and he showed his determination from the start coming from a score down to win his first fight.

He carried on getting stronger winning his next 2 with ease to get to the final but he couldn’t continue this run and was caught with a superb throw to settle for silver.

Jack Thompson and Andrew Woods found themselves against each other in the U46 boys, Jack fought well and was unlucky to lose his first fight but determined in his second he won securing the silver.

Andrew also fought hard and despite having tough fights he pushed through to the finals taking the bronze medal.

The final Kin Ryu fighter of the day was Scott Woods in the U50kg boys.

This was his first time at the championships but did not let this phase him as he took on boys several belts higher than himself to win all his fights well and take the gold and title of Sussex Champion.

With 13 fighters making the Sussex 2010 squad and 8 being selected for the Sussex team these have been Kin Ryu’s most successful championships of recent years and show how far the players are progressing.

As well as the fighters, Kin Ryu was represented by Martin Rivers, Peter Seymour and Steve Dunn who were refereeing, James Rivers and Matthew Graves who were officiating on the tables and Lisa Harrison who was coaching.

Well done to all!

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