German Open and Training Camp

I'm just back from attending the German Open in Heildelburg. This was my first VI competition (as I was injured for the last) and it was also a senior competition.

I'm pleased to say a got a silver in this event! 

A 2 day training camp followed the event which was hard work but I picked up

Some useful tips.

On my return to the UK I saw that the BJA had been busy promoting the event and the teams results which was great. 

My college and the BJA arranged for me to undertake a live radio interview with BlindSports Radio in Australia and I have just done another radio interview for the college radio station!! Must be famous!

Couldn't of happened at a worst time!

I attended England squad training at the new British Judo Centre of Excellence yesterday and whilst training with one of my coaches, I injured my thumb! Nothing too bad about that apart from my whole hand started swelling up!!

The physio insisted I went to A and E where it was discovered that I have an unstable fracture of the thumb joint!

They put me in a cast to just under my elbow!!!!

Now obviously with the world champs a week away, it's a no-brainier that I simply cannot fight! I will also be out for the British  Championships in December :(

Gutted!!

I am still however going to the World Champs! Hopefully I will be the lucky mascot as I have already used up the bad luck!!!

Got my black belt!

Hi all

I've just completed my black belt theory test. Out of 270 points I needed to get 190 to pass. I smashed it with 266!!! Well pleased!

So that nice new Fighting Films black belt will be worn with pride from now on!!!!

Welsh Champion 2013

Pleased to say that yesterday (02/11) I became the Welsh Champion in the Cadet O90 category. 

I also came 3rd in the Junior O100 category so good day overall!

Unfortunately the weather was horrific and the sports hall roof was under threat of blowing off! We ended up staying an extra night as road conditions were awful! 

I've been quiet

Hi all

Sorry for the literal silence!

I was out of judo for 6 months due to ruptured tendons in my ankle! What a nightmare!!

But I am now back fighting again and have had a number of competitions recently and have medalled in most!!

I have also amassed the 100 points needed to gain my black belt! Just need to complete my theory and it will be done ;)

I've been to a weeks squad training with the GB squad which was great and most excitedly, I have been selected to represent Great Britain at the Junior World Championships in Hungary in December!!!

My GB kit has arrived so I am really looking forward to getting that on and travelling to Hungary with the team!!

Watch this space for more info!!

Young Deaf Sports Personality of The Year

On Saturday 17th November I was awarded the accolade of Young Deaf Sports Person of the Year!
Naturally I am delighted with this award and it was great to see so many other deaf athletes getting recognition.

One thing that really stood out for me though was the lack of diversity in the sports - It was quite clear where the funding was being streamlined - football, tennis, swimming and chess! *hellooooo - what about judo!!*

Hopefully through the publicity that my win will generate, more people will become aware of judo - and hopefully more deaf people will be interested in giving it a try!

Mike Gatting (Cricketer) presented the awards - of course I had to get a picture with him :)

Paralympic Inspirations Programme

Over the summer I had an absolutely awesome experience! I was selected to attend the Paralympic Inspiration Programme! The British Judo Association nominated me and it was a great shock to find out I had been selected.

We met on a few different occasions, the first being in Manchester at the launch of the Paralympic World Cup, this was an introduction to the programme and the other 80 or so athletes on it.

Then in August we traveled down to Bath University which was the holding camp for many of the Paralympic  athletes. Whilst there we were kitted out in Paralympic Inspiration Programme kit, had lectures on Media, Doping, nutrition, One Team Mentality and generally went through the stages of preparation that the athletes would go through!

We also had a night at the Bath Paralympic Torch ceremony in which we were VIP guests! :)

We were in Bath for a weekend and then myself and my fellow judo colleague Chris (along with our nutter of a coach Ian) headed off to Kendal in Cumbria for an England Training week! Gluttons for punishment or what! It was an intense few days, hard work and physically demanding, but we didn't have time to catch breath before heading straight down to London for the remainder of the programme!

London was awesome! We went to the Paralympic Village (The food court was huge!), Paralympic House and spend time at various Paralympic Sports. Naturally I loved the judo - we got to see Sam Ingram getting through to the finals which was amazing as we were matside along with the rest of the Paralympic judo team! It really brought home the 'One Team Mentality' that we had been lectured about.

I have never been photographed so much as I was this week, loads of people stopped us and wanted photos with us and autographs! Such a surreal experience!

Last week was the culmination of the programme down in Loughborough University and it was good to catch up with my fellow athletes again! We are hoping to carry on the programme but of course this will be reliant on funding!

All the athletes on the programme (including yours truly)  have the goal of getting to either Socchi in 2014 or Rio in 2016 so watch this space!!!!