BUDOKAN MONSter Competition 23rd August 2009

On the 23rd August, Budokan Judo Club hosted its eighth annual MONSter competition staged since the JFA introduced them in 2002. Budokan is one of only 2 clubs in NSW who have maintained the tradition of hosting the State-wide event on behalf of the JFA(NSW).

 

The event ran like clockwork, thanks to the club’s many enthusiastic volunteers and helpers. Introduced last year for the first time, we had a great visual success with the scoring and timing by using the JFA’s electronic system. Thanks to the JFA for the loan of the screen and laptop. Thanks to the many Budokanis who took the time out to help on Saturday to prepare for the event and on Sunday to help run it so smoothly and stay back to clean up.

 

Whilst last year the number of participants was up by nearly 40% with its 48 entries compared to 36 in 2007, for some reason this year despite much advertising, numbers were down to only 28. This represents the lowest number attending since 2002, the highest being 57 in 2004. 11 clubs participated this year compared to 10 clubs last year, yet they all put on a great spectacle of technique and spirit. All comments received during and after the competition were enthusiastic and positive.

 

The 11 clubs represented and numbers participating were: Budokan (13 compared to 23 last year), Blacktown City (3 compared to 5 last year), Blacktown PCYC (3, same number as last year), Penrith PCYC (2 compared to 1 last year), Zen Bu (1 compared to 3 last year); Bushido Shoalhaven (1 compared 2 last year), Kido (1, same as last year), with 1 from each of the following clubs who didn’t participate last year: Woy Woy, Collegians, Kugatsu and Illawarra.

 

23 divisions were contested compared to 21 last year, 7 being uncontested. Of the 16 divisions, 8 were special combined divisions to create as many matches as we could generate. There were with 50 matches compared to 76 matches last year. Budokan’s 13 MONSters did particularly well winning 8 divisions, coming second in 9 divisions and third in 4 divisions as well as winning three of the special awards as voted by the participating clubs’ coaches. Congratulations to all especially those MONSters who participated in competition for the first time. Results for this year’s competition follow:

 

 

Reuben O’Connor (Woy Woy)

Isaah Moulder (Penrith PCYC)

 

Saskia Brothers (Budokan)

Sam Beedham (Budokan)

 

Zac Colman (Budokan)

Tigran Tovnasian (B/Town City)

 

Marcus Scalone (Zen Bu)

 

The staging of this event is no mean feat by any organisational standards, and to do it so well taking every opportunity to make it a real spectacle and experience for our MONSters and their supporters is really gratifying for us as well as for the MONSters themselves.

The support shown by our Budokan helpers, from the parents of our MONSters, to our older Juniors, our Seniors, to parents of non-MONSter members, again showed the spirit that is “BUDOKAN”.

 

Despite the low numbers participating, the event was a huge success regarding the cross-section of participating clubs and the enjoyment and enthusiasm of the athletes and spectators. It is encouraging that there were 4 new clubs participating and we will review the timing and format of this event to try and pick up the numbers in future.

 

There are too many people who did too many jobs to mention in detail. You know who you are.

 

For the first time, we are planning an U/13s event later in the year, so we’ll try to make that one special for our many Yonen (U/13s) athletes.

 

Congratulations on a job well done to all the MONSters and clubs who participated, and to all the supporters and helpers of the event.

 

Coaching Coordinators, Budokan Judo Club