DJC host the 1st 'DRAKE OPEN'
Sunday the 25th of November saw DJC realise another one of its aims and host its first external competition.
We have in our two and a half years of exsistence hosted a few interclub type festivals but this was to be our first official BJA competition.
We have qualified quite a few DJC members as officials this year which enabled us to make this possible, the main being Ros who passed her contest Recorder qualification which meant she was able to run the event for us.
We also had Andy Scott on hand to oversee proceedings and to ensure everything went as smoothly as possible.
The day started early with many of the DJC committee arriving before daybreak to begin set up, Tony had built us two fantastic coaching boxes which were used for the first time, also it gave us chance to use the magnificent podium he built for the first time in an 'Open' too. Mats and chairs were laid out with a weighing area before players from various clubs started to arrive.
Rather happily we had to close entry 10 days before the closing date as it had proved very popular especially with Cornish clubs who made up almost half the entire entry,
After a group warm up contests were underway
The Drake Open is a development event designed for players who are taking their first competitive steps and for young and newly qualified officials to experience an external event, on the competitive front Drake performed very well on the day with many wonderful performances which returned a respectable haul of 5 golds, 8 Silvers and 7 bronze medals,
The time flew and there was tremendous but respectful support for all the players from the viewing gallery.
All too soon the day had come to and end
I would like to thank thank on behalf of Drake Judo Club the following people
WA Vice Chariman - Andy Scott for travelling to oversee the whole day for us
Cornwall Chairman and Head referee on the day - Richard Hirst
BJA Young Referee of the Year 2017 - Amber Pascoe
DJC Young Referee - Keiron Murphy
All the Table officials including Andy Hay who turned up even though on Deaths door and TJ who has been signed off as an official
Alison Finn - for advice and advertising for us
All the DJC Committee, Volunteers and Coaches for getting up early and making everything happen
DJC Vice President Christine Gallie
DJC Welfare Officer Jess for managing the Weigh in
Bryan, Kate and Juliet for photography
FLO Judo Club - for suppling Mark
All of DJC's friends for popping in to wish us well
South Brent Judo Club for the Weighing Scales
Our young volunteers, Maria, Ellie, Jake, Lottie, The Chuckle Brothers(Liam & Callum) Alanna and anyone else i have forgotten
Also and HUGE thank you to the clubs that supported the event by entering players
Jason and Mid-Cornwall Judo Kwai
Ronan and Polkyth Judo Club
Martyn and Kingsley School Judo Club
Eva and Kazouku Judo Club
Gavin and Bradley Stoke Judo Club
Millie and Kira and Plymouth Judo Club
Ollie and Pierre and Ivybridge Judo Club
A huge well done to Rosemary Hopkins for managing the whole competition
We will hopefully be running the Drake Open as an annual event and will also try and get next years date out asap
Ross