The British Open 04: The Triangle Burgess Hill

Happy New Year everyone, sorry I haven’t been as regular as I should be on the website but other commitments dictate that I am not able to devote as much time to our beloved Kodokan Judo as I would like. But, I am back now and hopefully for good and bringing you up to the minute affairs.

Right, as the title suggests, the British Open was the most prevalent date but not necessarily the most outstanding day as it turned out. The day began for me at home, as it usually does, at about 6:30, travelling up to London Bridge train station where I caught the Thames Link to Burgess Hill. When I arrived I had to catch a taxi at the cost of roughly £5.00, but hey, a nice trip at the weekend does no one any harm, just ask Captain Lawrence Oates. When I finally arrived there at about 9:30am it was already under way but somehow I never got that feeling which stabs you between the ribs when you have missed a few fights at the biggest event in the British Judo calendar. In fact, I never even got the feeling I was at the British Open at all. Therein lies the problem. Oh, I am not about to do the Whinging Pom bit but lets face it the Triangle Sport centre was a hybrid between an over grown school sport centre and a Barrett home development, probably the brainchild of some local councillor who was about be kicked out of power. Well, as a local venture it is pretty outstanding, a real credit to a little place in West Sussex. But, as a place to hold the British Open with International appeal and as a platform to launching a bid for A status within the EJU, I was not so convinced. In fact I am hoping that the only member of the EJU present was Densign.

Yes, the whole day was a little disappointing unlike the British contingent success. But even if we didn’t have one win the day is usually magic due to a mixture of the action, spectators, stalls, and audience, roughly translated atmosphere. Atmosphere was the only Judoka not to weigh-in, he obviously thought that he would save himself for the next big occasion or was he out training at the European camp preparing for the Europeans. Wherever he was he wasn’t at the Triangle. I promised not to quote anyone or attribute their words directly but some were worth mentioning just for their comical value. Someone described it as ‘the British Open grading’; someone else said that, ‘it looked very similar to the Welsh Open.’ I think that was referring to the fact that we had four shiai areas. I must admit that I thought it was being held between two halls because I couldn’t find the other four or five shiai areas. The other comments I cannot quote because they were un-publishable.

The usual suspects from the supply side of things were there to service our needs. Dino our very own wheeler-dealer displaying his wares and so too was Mr Hicks giving me a very professional demonstration of his latest idea, an interactive DVD of the Gokyo, which was fantastic. I was there for nearly 25 minutes watching as Neil Adams demonstrated the various techniques with almost Mifune like execution. There were some mumblings amongst the guys as to whether the set up would be optimum for their needs and they were optimistic about the whole thing. I dare say that things didn’t turn out like they usually do but I can’t imagine any sleepless nights.

Good to see Bob Willingham there, taking all the cringe-factor 100 shots of the day. He still hasn’t taken any photos of me yet but my time will come, mark my words!

On Saturday things ran a little over to the tune of about three and half hours, which isn’t bad if you are expected to finish roughly at 4 o’clock. But guess what, it was scheduled for 7. I left at around 9:30pm and the semis had just started. I was panicking a bit because I had to travel back to London and I realised that I was stuck out in the country with the nearest train station more than three miles away. So, a twelve-hour day eh, that has to be a record for a BJA competition and I wasn’t even fighting. Those who were fighting must have felt like they had died and gone to a perpetual judo nirvana as some had had their Judogis on for more than 13 hours straight.  Maybe, and here is a long shot, it over-ran because of the number of shiaijo. Ground breaking don’t you think?

The event, other than that, went ok! I may have painted myself into a corner here because there isn’t anything else is there, that pretty much covers everything I can think of. The only other thing that is always guaranteed to raise the atmosphere was the sighting of our past heroes and heroines such as the Neil Adams, Roy Inman, Ray Stevens, Diane Bell. I think the marked guest appearance this year was the presence of Mr Starbrook, which caught nearly everyone by surprise.

The Budokwai was represented by a number of fighters to name a few of the usual suspects: Bobby Rich, Dmitry who returned from his native Russia to be with us and fight only a week before the Open and a one Mr Skulte, who it must be said did rather well, as he fought and lost to the world under 66 kilo world silver medallist and British Olympic medal hope, Craig Fallon. And to think he only secured his black belt a month previously. Budokwai sponsored the under 66 kilo category and the under 90 kilo, which I wasn’t aware of until I browsed through the event programme or should that be stapled leaflet.

I was also looking out for our beloved Natalie Priestley but alas she was not to show. I noticed that she has changed her club to her local club in Scotland. We want you back Natalie they don’t love you like we do babe!

The only British gold medals of the weekend were Simone Callender who fought very well throughout all her fights and Karen Roberts who was in devastating form. Simone beat Kerry Manfredi (GBR) and Karen beat Marianne Charve of France in their respective finals. Craig picked up a bronze for his efforts which to be honest he didn’t really look like he was trying. But then again he was fighting in a heavier weight category. The upset of the day was World’s fifth place –70 Miss Howey. It must be said she didn’t take some of her opponents seriously because she was walking off their techniques and not giving them any respect. Inevitably she got caught with a beautiful Ouchigari, which sent her into the air and onto her back, textbook style.

The weekend could have been worse I suppose but, I was watching Judo which is only second to fighting itself. The venue was as a result of the uncertainties of Crystal Palace, which we now know to be receiving a huge cash injection from Red Ken. The Triangle as an alternative in desperate times served its purpose but as a permanent replacement it will be a dubious choice. A suggested alternative would have been Alexandra Palace, London, which is the Crystal Palace of the north.  It has all the endowments the British Open needs to look to the future and win A status in the EJU.  It has the size, space, travel, accommodation and most of all the international reputation to attract viewers from outside the Association, whether that be, spectators or telegraphic mediums. Oh, but it cost a fortune I hear the readers cry. No! It doesn’t at all. The Palace is run by Haringey council, which is in financial trouble, as are all London councils. If they could fill that place with top events it would do so at a very reasonable price for the repeat business. Maybe someone should look into it, just an idea. Oh, did I mention it is a little older than the Triangle and it is in London.

Sam