State Junior & Senior Teams Tournament 2009 Results

The U/13s divisions were introduced this year. Unfortunately, our boys’ team had only one match against a composite team from Zen Bu and Illawarra whom our boys defeated 2:1 for 1st place. Our two U/13s girls’ teams were in a similar boat with only one other team from Blacktown PCYC participating. Both our girls’ teams defeated Blacktown and our A team defeated our B team 2:1 for 1st and 2nd place. Well done to our very talented U/13s teams: Josh, Cameron, Adam, Kendall, Amber, Madison, Tara, Conor and Kyle.

 

The competition in the U/16s divisions was also quite poor with our girls’ team (Naomi and Amber) winning the category uncontested. Our boys’ team was a bit underweight in the allocated divisions (with Hamish out with a gastro bug) and lost to UNSW after a draw and a subsequent rematch, and then we lost to the solid Woy Woy team for 3rd place. Commendable efforts to Aidan, Jakob and Nathan in having to compete outside their weight categories.

 

Our Men’s B team was short by 2 players, so we had to give away 2 byes in each round. With Shimin courageously battling a knee injury, the handicap was too great and we came in 3rd to UNSW and Sydney Uni. Well done to Kevin Schmitz for entering his first men’s competition, to Jake Hickey for fronting up after a late shift at work, and to Shimin for turning up so that the others could play and so we could enter a team.

 

Our Men’s A team was also not at its strongest with Guido out injured, Shaun out with a gastro bug, and Partick returning from Melbourne at 3am after a 21^st party. Our men’s teams are historically on the lighter weight side but we love the challenge. In the two pools of three teams, we were pitted against UNSW and the very strong Zen Bu A team. In a very closely contested match, with 2 wins, 2 losses and a draw against UNSW, on a count back of points we lost 20 to 17. Against Zen Bu, we lost 4:0 plus a draw. Highlights were Jarrad scoring on Patryk Kelly, Patrick scoring against Morgan, Andras’ Uchi-Mata on the bigger UNSW 1st Kyu and Emilio’s very tactical matches against Kim and the Brazilian 1st Kyu, both for draws. Well done also to Jake Hickey for backing up during the Men’s B to make up the A team.

 

Our Women’s A team was also short one player giving away a bye to UNSW. Simmy had a close match with former Olympian Sonya Chervonsky for a draw, and Ashley played well in Tachi-Waza against National Champion Gemma Chadwick and then got caught with a strangle on the transition to ground work. Well done to the girls on 2nd place.

 

The Women’s Masters team continued their tradition of winning uncontested. In the Men’s Masters, we were up against a composite UNSW and Sydney Uni team. With 1 win up and 1 down, Emilio’s draw against Doyle resulted in a rematch, which he won right on the buzzer. Well done to the masters men on a good win. Congratulations to Bryan Medbury and Peter Zellner for supporting the event, and allowing the club to enter a team.

 

In all, Budokan’s 10 participating teams well surpassed the number of teams entered by any other club. Furthermore, of the 10 available categories available on the day, Budokan entered teams in 9 of them winning 5, coming 2nd in two, and 3rd in two more. 

 

It is a shame that many clubs choose not to embrace the spirit that provides so much value to club sport at such events. That said, Budokan will continue the tradition of placing a lot of importance in team events, making up as many teams as possible even if they are short a player (or 3) rather than forming composite teams.

 

We all warmed up together, juniors and seniors, and each team got behind our other teams. There was a lot of club spirit shown at this event and athletes had to dig deep through injuries, the flu, working or partying late the night before, and of course mismatches of weight and grade. Well done to those who came and played only one match and those who came and didn’t get to fight at all – in the end it’s about supporting the club and the sport, and we certainly did that. Budokan athletes continue to impress with their enthusiasm and club spirit and the club continues to develop and grow.