It might have been a larger tournament with stronger competitors, but that didn’t keep Moose Jaw Kosiekan Judo Club members Brian Smith and Matt Bespalko from winning medals at a tournament in Edmonton during the weekend.

Bespalko ended up finishing in third place in the junior men under-81 kilogram division — his regular age and weight class — before going on to win gold in the senior men under-81 kilogram category.

Brian Smith was second in the juvenile men over-74 kilogram division and ended up taking fourth place in the senior men under-90 kilogram division.

Other members of the club took part in a tournament in Prince Albert, bringing home seven medals from the provincial calibre event.

Marissa Kerr ended up in taking a victory over clubmate Danielle Pakula in the final of the cadet girls over-46 kilogram, with the local judokas earning first and second place respectively in their divisions.

Local competitors also gave a good accounting of themselves in the cadet boys division, as Chris Gerry took third in the under-30 kilogram division alongside Jarryd Denne in the under-43 kilogram. Steven Gerry was sixth in the under-30 kilogram.

Garth Rivers finished third in the juvenile men’s under-48 kilogram, and senior men’s competitor Mark Pivovar was second in the under-90 kilogram category.

Appeared in the Moose Jaw Times-Herald April 23, 1999