76 AUGUST 2019 http://www.soldiermagazine.co.ukJUDOKA FORGE LINKS WITH GB ELITE
T
HE Army’s judo stars will
be looking to make greater
gains on the mat following
the launch of a new partnership
with Team GB.
More than 30 Service players
joined some of the country’s
finest up-and-coming talent for a
day of fitness drills and training
as the initiative was formally
unveiled in Aldershot.
The two set-ups will now enjoy
a close working relationship
as they look to develop the
skills of the Army’s athletes and
coaches, while highlighting the
opportunities that are available
in the military to those in the
national fold.
“Our aspiration is to develop
similar links to those the boxers
have made with Team GB,” Maj
Jim Crompton (AGC (ETS)),
secretary of the Army Judo
Association, told SoldierSport.
“It is definitely a feather in our
cap and this is a real opportunity
for both organisations.
“The values and standards
of judo are very similar to the
Army’s. It is a sport that requiresabsolute dedication to training
and when it is really hard you get
up and go again.
“Our athletes have that
mentality so if we develop their
skills they can really push on.”
Capt Alex Paske (RE) has
already been involved in full-time
training with Team GB and has
aspirations of competing at the
2022 Commonwealth Games,
while sisters Cpl Sarah Hawkes
(AGC (RMP)) and Cpl Rachel
Hawkes (Int Corps) are among
the top players in the country.
And with links to the elite
standard now in place it is hoped
more soldiers will follow suit.
“We’ve been invited to the
national centre in Walsall where
we will be able to use GB’s
performance profiling tools on
our athletes,” Crompton added.
“It features a series of physical
and technical tests that highlight
what it takes to reach different
levels in the sport. It can then be
used to monitor progress.
“It is an exciting move and
there will be opportunities to
train together again.” ■JUDO
FIGHTING FORCE: CPL NATHAN SALKELD AND SGT LEWIS HANNINGTON (BOTH REME) WERE
PART OF THE UKAF SQUAD THAT FINISHED FOURTH AT JULY’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS"IT IS A
FEATHER
IN OUR
CAP"
IT WAS a case of honours even
as the Army’s martial arts stars
squared off against their Armed
Forces rivals at the annual Inter-
Services showdown.
The soldiers claimed top spot
in the kendo competition but
it proved to be a disappointing
campaign in the karate, where
injuries were costly in a defeat to
the Royal Air Force.
The airmen tasted further
success in the ITF tae kwon do,
while a strong presence from
the Royal Marines helped fire
the Royal Navy to victory in the
Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
“We were very close in the
karate but the injuries to our
kumite team were decisive,” Lt Col
Dave Campey (RE), secretary of
the Army Martial Arts Association,
told SoldierSport.
“In the tae kwon do, we had the
best players but were just lacking
that strength in depth and the RAF
brought a good team.
“There wasn’t any complacency
on our part and we went there
wanting to win but it was just one
of those things.”TROPHIES SHARED
Pictures: Cpl Jamie Hart, RLC76-77-sol-aug.indd 1 25/07/2019 14:35