Gold for Andy Day – before injury struck again

JERSEY’S judo squad has been touted a future force to be reckoned with after ten competitors clinched medals – five of them gold – at last weekend’s Hampshire Split Grade Tournament.

Following their disappointments at this year’s Island Games, where all that was picked up was a flood of injury problems, Andy Day topped his field to take gold in the men’s under 90 kg, while André Blaby won silver in the men’s 100kg+.

Day’s elation, however, swiftly turned sour after he dislocated his knee shortly after picking up his medal and looks set to spend some time on the sidelines.

Yet there were gold medals, too, for Kyle Le Mottée, in the under 50kg boys’ event; John Benest, in the under 66kg boys’; Dean Mash, in the under 73 kg boys’, and Edward Taylor, in the under 81 kg boys’ event.

Competitor Mike Bisson said: ‘On the back of the disappointment of the Island Games in Aland, and our lack of competitive experience, we were over the moon at the number of medals Jersey won.’