Top-notch turnout for judo showcase (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Top-notch turnout for judo showcase

Oliver Pearce (right) competing in the junior section at the Salisbury Open Judo Championships. Picture by Sarah Williams SAW03JUDO stars of the future were on show at the weekend in the second Salisbury Open Judo Championships.

More than 200 junior, senior and veteran competitors from across the country were at Five Rivers Leisure Centre for the event, which is fast gaining recognition as a high-quality martial arts showcase.

Organiser and Moonrakers Club coach Peter Blakemore was again delighted with the standard of the championships.

And he was even happier to have overheard competitors saying it is already one of the top contests in the country.

Plenty of local judo players took part in the contest and, although many found the going tough against opponents who compete regularly, Blakemore believes they have lots of positives to take away with them from the day.

He said: "A lot of our members are up-and-coming, yet they were facing established players.

"No-one won a medal but they all gained a lot from the experience, and, most importantly, they all enjoyed themselves."

More than 100 spectators turned out to see many of the sport's top talents on display.

"We certainly saw quite a few possible future Olympians in action this weekend," added Blakemore.