New York Open
Monday 16 March 2009
Budokwai success at New York Open
|
|
|
The Budokwai took a squad of six players out to this years New York Open. It was held at the impressive New York Athletic Club, a private members sports club overlooking Central Park on Central Park South.
The Team came back with 2 medals and a 5th place, a great return from a highly competitive event with the likes of Japan, USA, Canada, Germany, Holland, Ukraine, France and Poland all in attendance.
Graham Trinder at u60kgs took the silver medal, losing out to the Canadian number one in the final. It was an excellent result nonetheless after coming back from a waz-ari down in the semi-final to beat the Japanese fighter, throwing him with a huge pick-up and then for ippon with sumi-gaeshi.
Jonathon Purssey won four fights en route to his Bronze medal, losing to the eventual winner and double Olympic medalist Roman Gontuch from Ukraine. He arm-locked a German first fight and went on to throw his Dutch opponent in the Bronze medal match with a massive te-guruma.
James Gilmore was unlucky at u81kgs, losing in golden score for the bronze medal. He won through to the semi final, beating a tough Canadian, Kachour, but then faced reigning Olympic Champion, Ole Bischoff.
Alex Farbon defeated a fighter from Costa Rica before losing a close and somewhat controversial match against a Japanese fighter, with the winning score a difficult call. Bobby Rich won his first match but was not firing on all cylinders due to illness. Diego Scardone started well but a knee injury prevented any further progression in the tournament.
|
|
|
|
|
|
