Richard Turner and Amanda Sousa topped champions in Ne-Waza
Simon Gauthier-Hansen and Juliette Mireault needed to overcome a number of challenges to make it to the Open Nationwide Championships this yr, however on Thursday, they proved that each one the onerous work had paid off, profitable gold in Ju-no-kata for the second yr in a row.
Photograph: Judo Canada
Simon Gauthier-HansenandJuliette Mireault
A number of weeks in the past, Mireault needed to transfer to Quebec Metropolis, which meant she was much less typically out there to coach together with her associate, who lives in Longueuil. Though they had been solely capable of prepare collectively on Saturdays and Sundays, the 2 judokas had been however totally ready by the point they arrived on the Centre Sportif Pierre-Charbonneau in Montréal.
“We’re a bit proud, and we needed to carry on to our title this yr!” admitted Mireault. “Yearly, the extent of competitors will increase, so we’re very pleased with having carried out properly, and we’re comfortable to have received. We knew we had been up towards some very sturdy athletes. As we watched their performances, we felt a bit nervous, however our dedication is what made the distinction.”
The pair dominated the competitors with a rating of 401 factors. Alberta’s Wesley Enns and Kelly Palmer completed second with 369.5 factors, and Ontario’s Shane LeGros and Dan Rusu completed third with 351.
“Profitable once more is wonderful! The stress of hoping you’ll carry out the way in which you need to by no means goes away,” defined Gauthier-Hansen. “This medal qualifies us for the Pan-American Championships in Bogotá and the World Championships in Las Vegas, so it’s a fairly large deal! I by no means thought I’d attain such a excessive degree, however we acquired caught up within the competitors.”
Additionally within the senior class, Pierre Pelletier and Ivan Fournier captured gold in Kodokan Goshin-Jutsu with a rating of 531. Daniel Fowl and Masoud Naeimi of Ontario secured silver with 491.5, and Palmer and Enns received bronze.
In Kime-no-kata, Shane Rooney and Bailey Hu of Ontario completed on the high of the rostrum. Their rating of 482 factors allowed them to edge out Ontario’s LeGros and Rusu (476 factors) and the Québécois duo of Mario Pageau and Marin Vallières (457 factors).
Palmer and Enns received a complete of three medals at the moment. Along with their podium finishes in Ju-no-kata and Kodokan Goshin-Jutsu, the Albertans received gold in Katame-no-kata, with a rating of 370 factors. Simon Dufour and Philippe Dutremble of Quebec completed second with 325.5 factors, whereas Les Darts and Riley Maruyame of British Columbia completed third with 315.
Photograph: Judo Canada
Amanda Sousa and Richard Turner
Richard Turner and Amanda Sousa topped champions
The motion resumed within the afternoon with the Ne-Waza occasions, the place Alberta’s Richard Turner and Manitoba’s Amanda Sousa claimed the championship belts.
Final yr, Turner completed third in the identical occasion, and this yr, he returned to Montréal with the agency intention of going all the way in which. His aim was to take high honours, and that’s precisely what he did. After profitable the over-81 kg gold medal, he went on to compete towards the winners of the opposite classes, as per the event format.
He triumphed over Quebec’s Ludwing Ortiz (-81 kg), Christophe St-Godard and Saskatchewan’s Michael Yee (-66 kg) to say the title of total Canadian Ne-Waza champion.
“I really feel nice, however I’m exhausted! I educated onerous for this competitors, and I’ve had a superb season, so I felt assured arriving right here. After ending third final yr, I needed to return again stronger,” mentioned Turner.
Sousa was additionally delighted with at the moment’s end result.
“It’s improbable! I used to be tremendous enthusiastic about this competitors. My coaching went properly, and I actually loved this expertise,” mentioned Sousa, who started her day by profitable the over-63 kg contest. She then prevailed over New Brunswick’s Vicky Pitre (-63 kg), Alberta’s Isla Diesmos (-52 kg) and Yukon’s Lia Hinchey to be topped total Canadian champion.
“I’ve been engaged on a brand new method, and I used to be ready to make use of it at the moment. I used to be actually nervous through the competitors! For me, the primary bout is all the time the toughest. I did every part I might to remain targeted and calm,” she defined.
A complete of 1,148 judokas will participate within the Open Nationwide Championships, and the occasion will proceed on Friday with the Veterans and U18 competitions.
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For the competitors outcomes, click on right here.
