Judo-Premature end to Saturday's competition |04 April 2005

According to a Seychelles Judo Federation (SJF) spokesperson, they could not go on with the female and male Open category competitions as time was not in their favour. 

"The competition should have ended by 5 p.m. to allow the Praslin judokas enough time to catch their flights back home at 6 p.m. At 5.15 p.m. the different weight categories had just finished so we had no other choice but to stop the competition prematurely. We are planning to continue with the competition next weekend if everything goes according to our plan," said the spokesperson.

As for Cuban national team coach Juan Carlos Suarez, he said he was impressed with the level of local judokas.

"It's a pity that we could not go on with our competition, but I must say that the judokas impressed me on Saturday. They are very talented and with proper training they will develop into better judokas," said Suarez.

He added that the level of participation in Saturday's competition proved that Seychelles judo is healthy and is well established amongst the youth.

"The competition gave me the chance to measure the progress and abilities of local judokas. I enjoyed every minute of it and I am looking forward to the next tournament," said Suarez.

Saturday's competition, which officially launched the 2005 season, was also being used to select potential judokas who will form part of the country's national selection.

Gerard Baker (-90kg), Francis Labrosse (-66kg), Neddy Jeanne (-73) and Francisca Rose (-52kg) might have been the most impressive judokas on Saturday as they displayed strength and techniques to dispatch their opponents on theway to winning their respective categories.

In the male senior category final, Gerard Baker, silver medallist at the Sixth Indian Ocean Islands Games in Mauritius in 2003, won by ippon (osaekomi – hold down after 25 seconds on the ground work) over Praslinois Dominic Dugasse who also gave a stunning display throughout  the whole tournament.

Third place went to another Praslinois, Calix César, who was ipponed by Baker in the semifinal.
Francis Labrosse, who has represented the country in a number of international competitions including the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004, swept aside his opponents to win the gold medal of the men's senior -66kg division.

Labrosse won by ippon over Praslinois Germain Rose in the final and so did Neddy Jeanne over the more-experienced Leslie Philoé in the men's -73kg of the joint senior/junior division.

For her part, Francisca Rose, who is still a cadet fighter, dominated the female -52kg. In the final, she met a determined Paddy King but Rose let her experience tell to beat the latter and win herself a gold medal.

Below are the other results in different categories of Saturday's competition

Benjamin girls -40kg:
1st Sophia Thomas, 2nd Anna-Rose Souris, 3rd Murielle Agathine

Benjamin boys -34kg:
1st Darvish Joubert, 2nd Sheldon Barra, 3rd Rupert Madeleine

Cadet female -48kg:
1st Leola Littles,  2nd Shujatha Clethir

Benjamin boys -27kg:
1st Neddy  Philoé, Carlos Ladouceur, 3rd Mervin Serret

Benjamin boys -30kg:
1st  Charles Thomas, 2nd Trevor Henriette

Benjamin boys -37kg:
1st Dino Dodin, 2nd Romero Barra, 3rd Hendrick Samedi

Minime boys -42kg:
1st Randolph Didon, 2nd Ted Camille, 3rd Dario Larue

Benjamin boys -55kg:
1st Steven Padayachy, 2nd Stephano Briscilia, 3rd Nathaniel Finesse

Minime boys -60kg:
1st Darren  Tirant, 2nd Mario Marion, 3rd Darra Balette

Benjamin boys' -55kg:
1st Marcus  Dorasamy, 2nd Michael Athanase, 3rd Steven Moosa

Cadet male -65kg:
1st Jean-Paul William, Yannick Hoareau, 3rd Robert  Lesperance

Cadet male -71kg:
1st Richard  Meriton, 2nd Lionel James, 3rd Basil Dick

Senior/Junior male -73kg:
1st Neddy Jeanne,  2nd Leslie  Philoé, 3rd  Robert Valmont

Senior male -90kg:
1st Gerard Baker, 2nd Dominic Dugasse, 3rd Calix César

Cadet male -55kg:
1st Emmanuel Michel, 2nd Benfica Young,3rd Jean-Claude Dorizo

Cadette female -52kg:
1st Francisca  Rose, 2nd Paddy King, 3rd Samia Nolin

Senior male -81kg:
1st Stephen Joubert, 2nd Andrew Melanie, 3rd Mike Rose

Senior/junior male -66kg:
1st Francis Labrosse,  2nd Germain Rose, 3rd Ian César