Judo sensation Kurtis to compete for Northern Ireland at Olympic venue

Kurtis Ashcroft a locally renowned Judo star, will be flying to London next week along with the Northern Ireland squad to represent his country at the new Excel Olympic stadium.

The Ballybogey teenager will be competing at the largest Great Britain youth tournament ever staged. It will be held under the banner of the Sainsbury UK school games and has attracted the cream of Judo from across the UK.

To qualify for this event Kurtis has battled it out with fellow competitors at various tournaments within Northern Ireland and indeed further afield to win his place on the Northern Ireland team.

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Kurtis currently trains out of the Causeway Judo Club, Ballymoney, and is currently coached by his father Alan Ashcroft.

A proud Alan said: “This will test Kurtis to the limits and is a good indicator of what to expect at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland which, if things goes according to plan, he could be competing in either of his two chosen sports of freestyle wrestling and Judo.

“Presently however, he seems to be concentrating more on judo, as there’s a bigger pool base to train with in Northern Ireland.

“Causeway Judo has a lot of rising and aspiring young fighters, who no doubt will be following in Kurtis’s footsteps in a few years.

“Causeway Judo would like to take this opportunity to wish Kurtis all the best and hopefully he will bring some medals back for Northern Ireland and the wee toon of Ballymoney.

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