Sittingbourne Ashley Costa won the Lightweight category. Ashley a 2^nd Degree Black Belt in Judo, CombatSombo Wrestling and Sombo Wrestling so the win was no surprise. Ashley is known for his superb throwing techniques and he dispensed with most of his opponent’s in style. All though it looked is if Sittingbourne Player 15 year old Danny Carrott nearly created a major upset, Danny was the youngest and lightest player on the day and was diffidently the under dog. Danny caught Ashley in the first few seconds of the bout with a drop shoulder throw for 4 points putting him in the lead; Ashley recovered to take a lead of 10pts to 4pts at the end of the first round. The second round started with Ashley trying a strangle to no effect but then another surprise Danny gained a 4pt hold. The bout finished 10pts to 8pts. Alan Cain a Black belt in Karate, Jiu Jitsu, CombatSombo and Kickboxing and coach to the London Barbarians took 2^nd place. Alan and his members are very unorthodox; most grapplers test each other out before making some real positive moves. Not the barbarians once the whistle goes they are on the attack, this confused some of the more traditional Grapplers. Alan put the Barbarian Guillotine Lock to very good use and won well-deserved Silver.                                             

Lightweight:

1^st Ashley Costa Sittingbourne Warriors

2^nd Alan Cain London Barbarians

3^rd Matthew Colley Devon

Middleweight:

1^st Colin Carrott Sittingbourne Warriors

2^nd Brian Woodhall Eagle Nottingham

3^rd Miles Brown Sittingbourne Warriors

Heavyweight:

1^st Alan Nathan London Barbarians

2^nd Tom Hall Tang Lung London

3rd Jon Horne London Barbarians

Referee:

Martin Clarke.

This was our 1^st British Championships in this new style of wrestling, championships, which proved very successful. This year we only attracted players from England next year hopefully the other Home Countries will compete.

2002 will be the year of “He Sittingbourne Grappling festival” the Young Judo Club and Warriors Combat Wrestling Club has a host of events planned for next year. At the Swallows Leisure Centre we have an International Judo event planned with players from Belgium, Holland and Poland attending in April, July we have a Junior Judo and UK Sombo Wrestling Championships, November Junior judo and British CombatSombo Wrestling Championships. On a smaller basis at our premises at East Street Sports Centre, Sittingbourne we have our YJC club championships on January 19^th, February Inter Club with Bromley/Bexley, March Interclub with Folkesone/Hawkinge, September interclub with Herne Bay/Faversham/Selling. English Sombo Wrestling Champs in March, CombatSombo Wrestling in July, Kurash Wrestling in May. Plus we have lots of courses lined up.

If you are interested in our events contact Martin Clarke 118 East Street Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4RX. Founder@CombatSombo.co.uk. www.Budo-IBF.co.uk www.combatsombo.co.uk

Some of your readers may be interested to know that I have purchased Sombo.info, Sambo.info and Grappling.info. Which are available for sale.