Young martial artists bring home medals after tournament success

A trio of young martial art fighters from South Tyneside have shown they have what it takes to bring home the medals.
South Shields Judo Club Kendal competition winners. From left Imogen Roeves, 9 , Meghan Roeves, 14 and Charlotte Hallway, 9.South Shields Judo Club Kendal competition winners. From left Imogen Roeves, 9 , Meghan Roeves, 14 and Charlotte Hallway, 9.
South Shields Judo Club Kendal competition winners. From left Imogen Roeves, 9 , Meghan Roeves, 14 and Charlotte Hallway, 9.

Imogen Roeves, nine, Meghan Roeves, 14 and Charlotte Hallway, nine, are all members of South Shields Judo Club which is based at Mortimer Community Centre.

The trio travelled to Kendal, Cumbria, for an open tournament, competing in their varying age groups with Imogen winning gold, Meghan securing silver and Charlotte achieving bronze.

South Shields Judo Club Kendal competition winners. From left Imogen Roeves, 9 , Meghan Roeves, 14 and Charlotte Hallway, 9.South Shields Judo Club Kendal competition winners. From left Imogen Roeves, 9 , Meghan Roeves, 14 and Charlotte Hallway, 9.
South Shields Judo Club Kendal competition winners. From left Imogen Roeves, 9 , Meghan Roeves, 14 and Charlotte Hallway, 9.
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Imogen was forced into a re-match against her opponents after a number of the girls in her group ended the contest all on the same number of points.

The youngster eventually secured the top spot - securing two of her wins with maximum points.

Coach Beth Foster said: “They were all brilliant. They have worked really hard. It was the last competition of the year, so for them to come back with medals they did, we were all really pleased for them.

“It was especially tough for Imogen as a few girls were all on the same points by the end of the contest. So they had to re-fight each other.

South Shields Judo Club Kendal competition winners. From left Imogen Roeves, 9 , Meghan Roeves, 14 and Charlotte Hallway, 9.South Shields Judo Club Kendal competition winners. From left Imogen Roeves, 9 , Meghan Roeves, 14 and Charlotte Hallway, 9.
South Shields Judo Club Kendal competition winners. From left Imogen Roeves, 9 , Meghan Roeves, 14 and Charlotte Hallway, 9.
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“For her to go through all that and achieve gold, it was amazing and so well-deserved.”

She added: “It is the furthest we have been as a club to compete and it was a much larger event than the girls have been used to with many more competitors.

“But it was a great experience for the girls to take part in a contest like this, and for them all to come back with medals was exceptional.”

South Shields Judo Club trains at Mortimer Community Centre in Reading Road on Mondays for adults 8pm until 9pm; Tuesdays for juniors from 4pm until 5pm and on Fridays, juniors five-seven, from 6pm until 7pm and juniors aged eight to 16 from 7pm until 8pm. Senior classes run from 8pm until 9.30pm.

For more information visit South Shields Judo Club in Facebook or call Beth on 07725 111056.