ADRIAN CARRE is a wonderful example of dedication to his sport. At the age of 40, the Guernsey Judo member has returned to it after a break of six years and in just over a year he has won his first kyu, a brown belt and a silver medal at the Southern Area Veterans’ Championships in September.
He also attended a gruelling two days of intensive instruction at Stratford Judo Club, including a one-hour practical exam in which he achieved the British Judo Association level-two coach award.
Carre represented Guernsey at an International Judo Tournament in the Netherlands over Easter for special needs competitors.
Entered in the under 81kg category, he successfully fought his way through the preliminary rounds into the final, which he won in grand style.
Having recovered from his exertions in his own weight category, Carre was invited to enter the open class, which included competitors from Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and England.
With over 100 UK competitors and supporters cheering him on, Carre almost repeated his earlier success, coming out in equal-third place.
He was more than delighted with the outcome of his first taste of international judo.
The next event is a competition in Italy in three weeks and so in the meantime he is back on the mat in serious training in order to repeat his Dutch success.
Carre puts his success down to the help and support of all his fellow instructors at the club and he looks forward to passing on the experience that he has gained to the younger members.
His immediate aim is to win the coveted black belt, but his long-term ambition is to qualify as an instructor for special needs children.
He hopes to be able to pass on to them the confidence that judo has given him to overcome his own learning difficulties and at the same time pass on all the benefits that his chosen sport has given him.
Article posted on 17th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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