By Chris McNeil
Athletes from the ToraKai Judo Club in Glace Bay brought home medals from the Nova United Martial Arts (NUMA) Cup in Halifax over the weekend. In the back row from left are Hailey Boutilier, Jeremy Sparrow, Gary MacMullin, Jordan Sparrow, Cody Trapp, coach Chris McNeil, coach Wayne Jenkins and Jamie MacLellan. In the front row from left are Bretton Currie, Connor Head, Dillan McNeil, Mitchell Jenkins and Tyson Sparrow. Missing from the photo is Erin Bursey.
Hailey Boutilier of Glace Bay won gold in the under-18 women’s -48 kg division. That’s to go along with gold medals at the Atlantic Training Centre Challenge and the 2014 Atlantic Judo Championships, as well as a bronze at the 2014 Eastern Canadian Championships. The 16-year-old Canada Games hopeful trained with former Olympian Amy Cotton of Judique in Halifax on Sunday, and is preparing for the national judo championships in Saguenay, Que., May 15-21.
Another Canada Games hopeful, Erin Bursey, picked up a bronze medal in the under-18 -63 kg women’s division, winning her final bout by armbar submission. The 17-year-old from Sydney River will also be attending the national championships in Quebec.
Gary MacMullin picked up a gold medal in the under-16 -55 kg division following a 3-0 performance. Connor Head also went unbeaten at 3-0 and won gold in under-12 -35 kg men’s Division of 4.
The senior male 100 kg division saw Bretton Currie go unbeaten and capture gold, while Jamie MacLellan followed with a bronze in the same division. MacLellan also won a gold medal in the senior male exhibition division.
Jordan Sparrow picked up a bronze medal in the under-18 women’s division, while Jeremy Sparrow placed fourth in the under-18 male -55 kg.
In the youth divisions, Mitchell Jenkins, Tyson Sparrow and Cody Trapp eached earned bronze medals in the Division of 6. Dillan McNeil posted a 3-0 record in the LTAD Division, where younger competitors are awarded participation medals.
The non-profit ToraKai club is coached by Wayne Jenkins and Chris McNeil.