Hull and East Yorkshire Sporting Heroes and Champions Awards 2009

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24th August 2009

James Allen

James Allen

Haltemprice Judo Club

As a typical 8 year old boy I was willing to give anything a go, football, cricket, swimming, cubs the lot and in some, if not most, cases I wasn't particularly good (just ask the coaches at Hull Zingari cricket club!). One Saturday morning I visited the local sports centre, I think to play badminton, one of my better sports, and saw a group of kids wearing what looked liked oversized white pyjamas basically wrestling with one another and thought "that looks like fun". Haltemprice Judo Club has a policy of being inclusive and open to all so the following week my Judo life began. Shooting forward 8 years or so all of the other activities have fallen by the wayside, and although I do still help out once a week at cubs I basically have no time for anything other than studying and Judo.

I am currently on what is effectively the England Judo under 17 squad. However, as the age banding works on calendar years, next year I will be competing at under 20 level and will have to work extremely hard to gain a place on the under 20's squad.

Clearly Judo is a sport and it can be enjoyed by everyone irrespective of age or ability. Within the Haltemprice club we have players who turn up and train once a week and are happy simply to enjoy the sport at that level, we also have a small group of competitors who are seeking international honours and train at least 6 days a week travelling many miles every week to find suitable training opportunities. The beauty of the sport is that it caters for each of the above type of participant and everyone in between of all ages.

As for me I'll dedicate as much time as I can to improving my skill and ability and hope that one day (maybe not 2012, I'll only be 18) I can represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games. My main philosophies when it comes to sport are neatly summed up by a saying posted on the wall of Judo clubs in Kendal and Warrington. "it is better to try and fail, than never try," but "remember second place is just first loser."

Sport has already given me so much, and I hope more is to come, that's why I'm supporting the Hull and East Yorkshire Sports Awards.

Hull and East Yorkshire's Sporting Heroes and Champions Awards 2010 sponsored by

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Visit Hull and East Yorkshire St Stephens North Point Shopping Centre Eltherington Group Kingston Communications NHS Hull Princes Quay Shopping Centre Hull City Council

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