Iain Kelly Awarded his Yellow Belt…

Iain ‘Killer’ Kelly was successful in his 9th Kyu (yellow belt) grading on Thursday 22nd January.  Iain was delighted to have passed and even more delighted to learn that any Senior Grade is higher than any Junior Grade so he is now a higher grade than his kids!!!

Iain is now looking forward to going for his Orange Belt in March at the NIJF Grading in Carrick.

Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff, 17th & 18th January 2009

Age Band A
Robyn Kelly – under 36kgs – Silver
Cameron Kelly – under 38kgs – Bronze
Age Band B
Bobbie Cardwell – under 44kgs – Silver
Age Band C
Jodie Kee – under 44kgs – Gold
Rory Kelly – under 55kgs – Silver
Lisa Cardwell – under 57kgs – Silver
Age Band D
Kirsty Kee – under 48kgs – Gold
Abdul Mohamed – under 60kgs – 7th

Several players from the club travelled to Cardiff for the Welsh Open on Saturday & Sunday 17th & 18th January.  On the Saturday it was the older players from Age Bands C & D with the younger ones fighting on the Sunday.

First up  on Saturday was Rory Kelly in the under 55kgs, looking for a better result than his Bronze medal in the previous year.  Rory got off to a good start with a bye in the first round and 2 good wins in the quarter-final and semi-final.  He then had to settle for silver as he was defeated in the final by one the top British players in his weight – Kyle Sweet from Wolverhampton.

At the same time on the next mat Jodie Kee started the defence of her Welsh Open title from the previous year.  Fresh from her bronze medal success at the British Trials the week before, earning her a place on the Junior British Squad for 2009, Jodie found herself in a pool of 5 and was faced with 4 tough fights to retain her title.  Jodie out-classed her opposition with 4 good wins all by the maximum Ippon score to once again win gold. Read the rest of this entry »

English Institute of Sport, Sheffield, 10th January 2009

Jodie Kee – under 44kgs – Bronze
Kirsty Kee – under 48kgs – 5th place

Jodie Kee has become the first Judo Player from Northern Ireland for over 10 years to be selected for the Junior British Squad.  Jodie earned her place on the U20 squad with a bronze medal at the Junior British Trials on 10th January.  Jodie was unfortunate not to make the final of the under 44kg category losing to Megan Henderson from Newburn in the Semi-final who went on to win the event.

Kirsty Kee was extremely unlucky not to make it a double for the club and family when she finished in 5th place in the u48kg category.  Kirsty started off in terrific form with 2 excellent Ippon wins against Jemima Duxberry of Devizes and Annabelle Ryan-Hooper of Pinewood (both former 3-time British Champions).  Kirsty then met Franchesca Steggall from Dartford in the semi-final, but the senior British Champion was too strong for Kirsty leaving her one fight off a bronze medal and a place on the British Squad.  Kirsty’s bronze medal fight was a re-run of her opening fight with Jemima Duxberry only this time the result was reversed and Kirsty was left in 5th place.

Congratulations to both girls!!

Jodie is now preparing for the British Cadet Trials due to be held in March in Kendal.  This event is the selection event for this year’s European Cadet Championships to be held in Slovenia in June.