Reed bags judo silver

11:24am Monday 5th May 2008

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Judo: Devizes Budo Club senior British squad members Jason Parsons and Tom Reed competed in the senior British Open Championships held at K2 in Crawley.

Day one saw Jason compete in the U73 Kgs category winning a hard fought first match against a Spanish opponent.

Second opponent was domestic opposition which Jason lost on a small score and with his opponent going out before the semi-final Jason went out of the event.

Day two saw Tom Reed compete in the U81 Kgs category.

First opponent was Jonas Sandstrom from Sweden who took Tom all the way to the golden score period before Tom threw his opponent.

Second opponent was Christophe Van Dyck from Belgium, another tricky opponent but this time Tom despatched him in quick time.

Next opponent was Canadian Antione Volios-Portier very tall and rangey.

Another tight affair but Tom came through by a small score.

With an initial entry of 33 competitors Tom was now in the last four. Next up was Steven Cnudde, another Belgian player and another big ask.

The fight went the distance with Tom securing the small score he needed to make the final. The final was an all GBR affair and brought Tom up against Matt Purrssey last year's champion and with a point to prove after Tom beat him in the British Closed in November. Another extremely tight fight with Tom having to settle for Silver after Matt threw Tom for a small score in the last minute and held on.

The only other player to medal in this highest profile event in the UK Judo calendar was Julian Davies who also took Silver in the British Open in Olympic year.

Four years later Julian competed in the next Olympics.

Both Tom and Jason travel to Sarajevo next weekend for the Bosnian Open.