March has been a busy and successful month for North East Judo Academy, with athletes competing both at home and abroad and gaining valuable experience along the way.
The month began on March 1 when a group of young athletes travelled to Portaferry in Northern Ireland to take part in a friendly tournament. The event provided an opportunity for development, allowing participants to test their skills in a supportive and competitive environment.
The following weekend, a number of athletes travelled to the Galway Open, where the club recorded strong results. Genevieve Ryan delivered a standout performance, winning gold in the Cadet category and bronze in the Junior division. Niko Hoderdzishvili secured a silver medal, while Bevan McLaughlin added a bronze in the Precadet categories.
In the Minor category, Maria, Roisin, Tomas, Lukasz, Piotr and Iurie represented the club. While they did not reach the podium on this occasion, each athlete gained valuable experience that will support their development in future competitions.
Attention now turns to the All Ireland Schools Championships, which take place on Sunday, March 29 in Dublin. The club will have 15 competitors taking part, marking an important milestone, particularly as some athletes will be unavailable due to the mid term break.
Off the mat, there has also been progress within the coaching team. Roy Gorey recently achieved his Level 1 Coaching Certificate. Roy, who began practising judo in Fethard in County Tipperary, became involved with the club over the past year while bringing his son Sean to training.
Genevieve Ryan also gained international experience earlier in the season when she competed at the English Open in February, recording three wins. She later attended the British Female Fighter Festival and achieved her brown belt at the National Grading.
James from the club’s senior class also competed at the National Grading, securing three wins and moving closer to becoming the first black belt who began their judo career at North East Judo Academy.
The club is also taking part in the Tesco Community Fund at Tesco West Street in Drogheda this month. The initiative supports local organisations, and the club is encouraging people to place their blue tokens in the North East Judo Academy box to help fund equipment and development opportunities.
Overall, March has been a month of progress and strong performances for North East Judo Academy, with more competitions and events still to come.
