The members of the Moose Jaw judo club have had another good year with the compeditors picking up awards at many meets throughout the province.
The team is coached by Len Partridge who began his judo training in Moose Jaw and has been associated with the sport for a number of years. He has been to five Canadian judo championships and will be going again next month. Fighting in the 209 and under class he has been on 14 Saskatchewan teams. He competed in the Can-Am Games in Spokane Washington in 1979. He will be competiong in the American championships in Arizona at wich compeditors from Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, the USA, Japan, Canada, Poland and other countries will compete.
Jaques Gagnon has picked up a few second place ribbons this year. He placed second in the Regina Open, second in the Moose Jaw Tournament and second in the Saskatoon Senior Men's Open until he broke his arm. He will not compete again until the Can-Am Games in Spokane.
Bill Campbell added a first to his collection of second place finishes. He was first at the Swift Current Open Tournament, but finished second at the Regina Open (provincials), and the Moose Jaw Invitational and the Manitoba Open. He will be representing Canada in the American Open and the Can-Am Games.
Lee Anne Hanson was third in the Saskatoon open and third in the Swift Current Open tournaments.
Brian Scott is a young and agressive fighter with several first place finishes to his credit. He was first at the Moose Jaw Invitational, first at the Swift Current Open and first in the Moose Jaw - Swift Current interclub tournament. He has attended a judo clinic run by Tom Greenway, ranked sixth in the world. He was also nominated for the Saskatchewan Cadet Judo Team wich will compete at the national level.
Mathew Dyck got into the sport late in the season, but still managed a first place finish at the Moose Jaw - Swift Current interclub meet. His coach feels he is an up-and-coming champion.
Betty Gaudin picked her green belt while living in Germany. She placed second at the Regina Open but was injured at the Moose Jaw Invitational and is back to working out but not competing.
Jim Beattie, though competing in a tough division, seems to work better in the tougher classes. He finished second at the Regina Open, and second in the Moose Jaw Invitational.
Josh Wiens began judo when he was just four years old in 1980. He finished first at the Moose Jaw Invitational, first in the Swift Current Open, second in the Moose Jaw-Swift Current interclub meet nd third at the Saskatchewan Open in Regina.
Kari-Anne Keene just started in the sport last fall and already has a second place finish from the Moose Jaw Invitational.
Though entered in a very compeditive field, Jeff Nelson is young and agressive and always finishes in the top five in his division. He was second at the Moose Jaw-Swift Current interclub tournament.
Kenrick Phillips fights in the under 60 pound class where he recieves a good deal of competitionn from his sister, Katrina. He finished on top of the Moose Jaw-Swift Current interclub tournament in his class.
Jimmy Wiens started training three years ago and leads the exercise and breakfalls in club workouts. He was second at the Moose Jaw-Swift Current interclub meet.
Trent Evanson holds a green belt. He picked up a second place finish at the Moose Jaw-Swift Current interclub meet.
Katrina Phillips, who just started training last fall, lost only two fights all year competing in the junior girls under 60 pound class and has been promoted to an orange belt. She placed first at the Regina (provincial) Open, the Moose Jaw Invitational, and the Moose Jaw-Swift Current Interclub meet. She also picked up a second in the Swift Current Open.
Appeared in the Moose Jaw Times-Herald April 22, 1981