This coming weekend will be most important for my progression since it will determine my standing on the GBR squad. I have been working really hard in preparation for this and have just completed another weekend training camp at the NIA. I feel good at the moment and my foot injury seems to be behind me, I’m glad to say. I enjoyed the training at the weekend and had some good partners to practice with.

I don’t want to tempt fate, so I will update you next week.

Just massaging my own ego here, but I have just been on the BJA website and noticed that the ranking sheets have been updated. I am now listed as the offical English No. 1 in the junior under 55kilo category. Bring on the weekend now!

I’m hoping this isn’t too serious, but last night whilst training I twisted my injured foot again. Sometimes things just don’t seem to be going in your favour. On the bright side I still have four days to recover before the Nationals. I will be training all day today and tonight, but at a reduced level, again not the way I would have liked. Anyway on a positive note I’m sure I can work and fight through the pain. I’ll try and keep you updated.

As mentioned in earlier posts, last weekend was the national championships in Sheffield.

It proved to be a bitter sweet weekend for myself winning the Silver medal. After a long 24hours I’ve had time to get used to the idea of losing in the final and to reflect on my performance. All in all the day went really well and I was fighting as well as I can, but made a silly mistake in the final to cost me the Gold medal.

My first fight was against a Scottish opponent and saw me throw him for an ippon in less than a minute into the fight – a good start to the day.

Fight number 2 was against a southern area player and must have been one of the quickest fights of the day. I threw my opponent for ippon in exactly 5seconds. many of my supporters told me later that they looked away for a few seconds and then saw me walking off the mat and were not sure of the result.

fight number 3 was against a player from the west of england, this fight lasted a little longer but as the clocked ticked to a minute I caught the player with a lovely footsweep and again won the fight by ippon.

Fight number 4 was against another southern player and lasted a total of 1minute and 48seconds. I was in the lead with points and threw my opponent twice scoring a wazari which equates to an ippon.

Now into the final I was fighting well and felt in control when I went to ground with my opponent. In a lapse of concentration I looked up for a second, just long eneough for my opponent to take his opportunity to apply a strangle which gave me no choice but to submit or be rendered unconscious. A silly error and an expensive one but one that I will certainly learn from.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have sent me well wishes to both my home page here and facebook and on msn. Many of the comments have come from people I do not know so can not reply individually to everyone but it is very much appreciated.

As a consolation prize I finally gained my final 10points for my black belt, so just as soon as I can be tested on my theory I will fianlly be a 1st Dan, at long last.

I don’t have any competitions coming up for a while but I’m sure my coach Bill Kelly has a few things lined up for me to do. I’ll share this with you when I know myself.

Finally I’d like to wish good luck to all the players who are going the Junior World championships in Morocco, especially Freya Dechasterlaid, from my home club Wolverhampton.

Good news, I thought I had to wait until next year for my next competition. After the national championships I am desperate to compete again and last night I received a phone call asking me if I was prepared to travel to Holland in November to compete. So Holland here I come!! I have picked up another injury during training on wednesday night, but this should be better long before then. I’m now hoping that I can end the year on a high and win some fights in Europe. Not long now but it still can’t come quick enough for me.

Tomorrow I have to travel to Dartford for a full days training session with the junior British squad. As luck has it I am carrying another injury but this will not be an excuse so I will just have to crack on with it!

I was watching the junior worlds competition yesterday and thought the level of judo was very high. It was good to see my younger brother on screen (he was there on holiday with his friend and his friends family) in the front row. He was watching Freya Dechasterlain from my home club Wolverhampton. Freya won her first fight against an Australian girl but then lost her second fight. None-the-less an excellent learning opportunity and experience for her. I was also pleased to see Brandon Dodge fight well and end up in 7th position. Needless to say I would like to say well done to everyone fighting in Morocco from the GB team.

Hopefully I’ll have a good session at Dartford tomorrow and get some extra preparation for the Dutch competition in November.