Simply the best from local judo stars

Following their recent success at the Commonwealth Championships in South Africa, it was Simply Judo’s dominance at the championships on Sunday 26th June in Lisburn LeisurePlex that has made Lisburn’s Head Coach Mark Montgomery most proud.

The event saw 250 children from across Northern Ireland descend on the LeisurePlex to challenge for school honours, with special guest Dame Mary Peters supporting the children and presenting them with their medals.

It was children coached in both Simply Judo After ­School clubs in local primary schools and Simply Judo clubs in the community that took the spoils.

There were 72 medals won by Simpl Judo members and 57 of them went to Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council children, with primary school clubs in Ballymacash, St Josephs Crumlin & Ballinderry PS dominating.

Children attending Simply Judo Maghaberry won medals for Victoria College, Rowandale Integrated PS, Hunter House, Wallace High, St Patrick’s Lisburn, Fort Hill PS, Downshire PS, Brownlee PS, Maghaberry PS, Pond Park PS, Moira PS, Hamiltonsbawn Integrated PS, St Patrick’s Magheralin PS, Lurgan Junior High and Banbridge Academy.

Ten Simply Judo children became NI Schools champions, most notably Sushruth Ramesh of Pond Park PS, Cerys Cranston of Riverdale PS and McKenzie Pauley of RBAI who only started Judo at the Simply Judo Academy in Maghaberry Community Centre in the last 12 months.

Mark Montgomery said: “These results lead the way for Judo within our City and NI, and continues to prove the commitment to our long term development programme continues to work extremely well.

“However, results are not our primary aim, with children meeting new friends, building confidence and having lots of fun doing it, being our main focus.

“We believe when we put our children first the champion then follows, and we cannot wait for the next event.”