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Commonwealth Judo competition hailed a success

01/10/2019

The first multi-national sporting event to be held in Walsall has been hailed a huge success, attracting sell-out crowds to the University of Wolverhampton.

The 2019 Commonwealth Judo Championships took place from Wednesday 25 - Sunday, 29 September at the University's Walsall Campus.

More than 1,000 competitors from 20 countries took part in the event, which saw England top the medal table.

Among the medallists was Jamie Spencer-Pickup, who won Gold in the -73kg category of the Junior competition - during his first week at University.

The 19-year-old from Derby has just started a BA (Hons) Business Management degree at the University of Wolverhampton.

He said: "I felt really good! It was my Freshers Week so it was a bit intense training and going to my lectures as well.

"I really excited to be able to do sport and studying as well. It's a really good balance and I am hoping I can do the University proud."

Also celebrating were Oliver Barratt who also started at University last week who scooped Gold in the -100kg (Junior) category and graduate Tomas Luckus who won Gold in the -90kg category (Senior).

Student Ebony Drysdale-Daley clinched Gold in -70kg while Graduate Jodie Caller won a silver medal in 57kg competition.

Director of the Institute of Human Sciences, Dr Richard Medcalf, said: "The 2019 Commonwealth Judo Championships were a huge success, with over 1000 athletes from 20 countries competing at our Walsall Campus. We were delighted to work with our partners at British Judo who hosted the event on behalf of the Commonwealth Judo Federation and Walsall Council to make this such a memorable global competition.

"This was the first time a multi-national event has come to the town of Walsall. It really has helped to put the town and our campus on the map, and really brought to life some of the world class sporting facilities we have at the University of Wolverhampton. "

The University is home to British Judo's Centre of Excellence and the event was delivered in partnership with Walsall Council.

The event kicked off with the visually impaired competition on Wednesday, followed by the juniors and seniors on Thursday.

Friday featured the veterans, with the pre-cadets on Saturday and the event closed on Sunday with the cadets.

The Championships coincided with the University's Welcome Week, and new students were rubbing shoulders with elite athletes as they arrived to settle in and start their studies.

For more information about studying sports science at the University of Wolverhampton, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/sport or come along to the next Open Day on Saturday, 12 October 2019: www.wlv.ac.uk/opendays

Further information 

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 32 2736 or 01902 518647.

Date Issued: Tuesday, 01 October 2019

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