National Judo Champs, Wellington June 2 - 4 2001

National Judo Champs, Wellington June 2 - 4 2001
Walter Nash Stadium, Tocker St, Lower Hutt
Some of New Zealands top Judo exponents will compete in the National Judo Championships to be held over Queens Birthday Weekend.

The tournament will be held this year as a memorial to Ben Griffiths, a Kiwi Judo stalwart who tragically died recently.

Competing in the senior women’s division will be 21-year-old Kirsty Sole, from the Wainuiomata Club. She is a New Zealand Representative and has just come back from competing in Europe and is currently in the NZ Commonwealth Games team.

The junior girls events will feature Evelyn Stannard, 13, from the Budokan Club in Wellington, the current Pacific International Champion and her ambition is to go to the Olympics. In the junior boys division will be James Te Wiata from the Wainuiomata Club, who is preparing to go to Japan on a scholarship.

Competing in the intermediate males division from the Upper Hutt City Judo Club, will be Jason Sartorelli, (14) and Ivan Magoc, (16). Jason is current Pacific International Champion and Ivan will be defending his NZ National Title.

Also present at the championships will be some of New Zealands top Judo Representatives:
Wayne Watson - 5th Dan black belt. First in the world to get a medal at Commonwealth Games level (Bronze medal, Auckland 1990).
Brent Cooper - 5th Dan black belt. Olympic/Commonwealth Games Judo Coach. Gold medalist in Judo at the Auckland Commonwealth Games.
Daniel Gowing - twice NZ Olympic representative, current World ranking of 9th.
Clare Hargrave - 1st woman to reach International Refereeing qualification, currently a 6th Dan black belt and a member of the Dan Grade Commission.

Requests for interviews with competitors, officials, spectators, etc are welcomed. Guided tours are available and expert commentary can be provided for broadcast. Come support your local community sport and past and future champions. For further information, please contact:

Derek Stannard
04 971 6648 (hm)
04 496 4858 (wk)

Programme of Events

Opening ceremony Sat 2nd June 9.45 am
Junior girls and boys under 14 yrs Sat 2nd June 10.00am
Junior team events under 14 yrs Sat 2nd June 3.00 pm
Intermediate males 14, 15, & 16 yrs Sat 2nd June 4.00 pm

Young women 14, 15, &16 yrs Sun 3rd June 9.30 am
Junior men 16, 17, 18, & 19 yrs Sun 3rd June 9.30 am
Senior women 14 yrs and over Sun 3rd June pm

Senior men 16 yrs and over Mon 4th Jun 9.30 am

Judo is the largest indoor sport and the second largest sport (behind soccer) in the world. In New Zealand there are about 80 clubs and roughly 3500 people taking part in this popular and growing sport.

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