Judo: Sacos-sponsored Open Championship-Baker and Vidot rule on the tatami |25 July 2005

In only the second competition organised by the Seychelles Judo Federation (SJF) this year, Baker (men open) and Vidot (women open) finished as the overall best fighters at the end of the four-hour-long championship.

Ranked seventh in the 90-kg category during the recent 26th African Judo Championship in South Africa and silver medallist at the Sixth Indian Ocean Islands Games in Mauritius in 2003, Baker was too strong for his opponents, winning with a waza-ari (seven points) against Praslinois Dominic Dugasse in the two-man  -90-kg division.

In the open category, Baker, arguably the country’s best fighter in the heavier category, again won by waza-ari against the same Dugasse in his first fight. He then ipponed Leslie Philoé to meet two-time Olympian Francis Labrosse in the final.

Having beaten Germain Rose and Naddy Jeanne by ippon (10 points) in his first two fights, Labrosse knew he did not stand a big chance against Baker.

With just 39 seconds elapsed in the scheduled five-minute bout, Baker, 26, had a good grip on Labrosse’s kimono (judo suit) to throw him onto the tatami for a win by ippon.
Speaking to Sports Nation after his double win, Baker said:
“I am happy with my performance even though I have not been training regularly as I have to train young judokas. I am of the opinion that most judokas are neglecting the techniques of judo to concentrate on strength training.”

Competing for the first time in two years, Marie-Annette Vidot, loser to Praslinois Brigitte Rose in the ladies’ +78-kg division, was all out for revenge in the open category.

She met Brigitte Rose in the semifinal and ipponed her to set up a final showdown with the more technical and lighter Leola Littles, winner of the -63-kg division.

Watched in action by her two sons and boyfriend, Vidot triumphed by ippon against Littles.

The 28-year-old said “the competition was OK and my aim is to improve my performance for future competitions.”

Cuban coach Juan Carlos Suarez watched the local judokas in action and was quite happy with their improvement.

The other results

Female -52-kg:
1st Tahiri Nicholas, 2nd Francesca Rose, 3rd Samia Nolin

Female -63-kg:
1st Leola Littles, 2nd Shujatha Chethiar, 3rd Venezia Lapolice

Female +78-kg:
1st Brigitte Rose, 2nd Marie-Annette Vidot

Female Open
1st Marie-Annette Vidot, 2nd Leola Littles, 3rd Brigitte Rose and Francesca Rose

Male -60-kg:
1st Benfica Young (five wins by ippon), 2nd Jean-Paul William, 3rd Jean-Claude Dorizo, 4th Yannick Hoareau, 5th Paul Hétimier, 6th Daniel Ladouceur (retired with arm injury)
 
Male -66-kg:
1st Francis Labrosse (four wins by ippon), 2nd Germain Rose, 3rd Basil Dick, 4th Ian César, 5th Robert Lesperance

Male -73-kg:
1st Naddy Jeanne,  2nd Leslie Philoé, 3rd  Richard Meriton

Male -81-kg:
1st Kevin Florentine, 2nd Robert Hollanda, 3rd Calixte César

Male -90-kg:
1st Gerard Baker, 2nd Dominic Dugasse

Male Open
1st Gerard Baker, 2nd Francis Labrosse, 3rd Dominic Dugasse and Leslie Philoé

G. G.