On the 2nd of December 2010 Bolton Wanderers, Bolton Judokwai and Wigan Athletic got together for one night of great competition. 27 young people took to the judo mats where they competed against each other to showcase the skills they had learnt through the Premier League 4 Sport project at their respective clubs. Also on show was a demonstration of different techniques that all the participants learnt which they would use when in competition.
The young people from Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic have been enjoying judo for the past 15 months and in that time many have developed their skills and gained their first belt. The competition was to give young people the chance to put all they have been taught into practice.
There was also a fun and productive element to the event. Project representatives Kerry Finny and Dave Duffy broke the competition up by delivering a festival where young people took part in fun games and also demonstrated to the small crowd all they had been taught whilst on the Premier League 4Sport programme.
“British Judo Association Regional Officers Kerry Finney and Dave Duffy were thrilled with both the attendance and the reaction to the recent event between Bolton Wanderers, Bolton Judokwai and Wigan Athletic. Judo games were conducted by Kerry Finney in an interactive and fun session whilst players were profiled in the background and matched with players of similar ability to showcase their skills in a competition that very much retained a festival feel. The parents in attendance were glowing with pride and the children were encouraged to cheer for their teammates which created an electric atmosphere. This first taste of inter-club competition seems to have whetted the appetites of the players that participated and if the smiles on their faces is anything to go by they will be back for more of the same very soon indeed.”The Bolton Wanderers Community Trust Premier League 4Sport Coordinator Nicol Meredith, who organised the event, said “We are keen to develop Judo in Bolton and for the past 15 months we have been working in partnership with Bolton Judokwai to deliver community based sessions in Bolton. As the Premier League 4Sport project is nationally recognised it would be great to work with another Premier League Club to create some competitive fun for young people. It was a brilliant experience for the youngsters involved as this was their first taste of a competitive Judo competition”.
The Wigan Athletic Community Trust Premier League 4Sport coordinator Wesley Partington said “This is a fantastic opportunity for the participants to try out the techniques they have been taught over the past year”.
On the evening each competitor received a medal for taking part and three lucky participants were presented with trophies for their outstanding individual performance.
It is certainly felt that the event was a great success and Bolton Wanderers Community Trust plan to deliver more Premier League 4Sport competitions in the near future.