THE Guernsey judo team are going to return from the Island Games with more medals this time.

The Guernsey judo squad. Back row, left to right: Ben Chapple, Daniel Bishop and Chris Goldsbrough. Front: Angelo Dorey, Sarah Martel, Roberto Mascherucci and Alex Mann. (0795283)

That is the confident pledge from their coach Roberto Mascherucci.

The 38-year-old Italian once represented his country at the European Championships and was the only member of the Guernsey team to pick up gold in Rhodes two years ago.

But he said it is all going to be different next week in Aland.

‘We’re going to win more medals, there’s no doubt about it,’ he said.

‘I’m extremely confident that at this Island Games the squad will bring more medals back to Guernsey, making everyone very proud of us.

‘I’m personally very proud of my team.

‘I have been making them work very hard over the last few years and I know that we will all give 150%.’

The thing that has sparked such confidence is the amount of competition experience his side has gained since 2007.

Thanks to sponsorship from King’s Life, where they also train, they have been able to compete on a regular basis in the UK.

‘We have and still are training so hard, six days a week and the contribution from King’s Life has been fundamental,’ he said.

Another factor pointing to greater victory is that two experienced ju-jitsu fighters – Dan Bishop and Chris Goldsbrough, who runs the Gracie Barra Guernsey ju-jitsu club, have joined the side.

Both have recently taken up sport and will compete in the 90kg class.

‘I’m sure that Dan and Chris will do well,’ said Mascherucci.

‘They are awesome on groundwork and it was just a matter of tweaking a few bits and bobs with them.

‘With their ju-jitsu they have got the right mental approach.’

Alex Mann, Angelo Dorey and Ben Chapple, who all featured in Rhodes, are also going to Aland.

The only female judo player representing the island on the mats this year is Sarah Martel.

She won bronze in the 52kg class in Rhodes.

This year’s organisers have combined the class with the 57kgs but Martel is eyeing up the gold.

‘The boys have been trying to fatten me up,’ joked the 32-year-old.

‘There’s no point going if you don’t think you can win gold.’

Mascherucci is also confident of retaining his 73kg title.

‘It’s got my name on it,’ he said.

‘The guy I beat in the final [Faroe Islands’ Hjalmar Johannesen], he will be there, but at the end of the day, it’s up to me. I’m going to have to beat all of them.’

Guernsey team:
Alex Mann, Angelo Dorey, Roberto Mascherucci, Ben Chapple, Daniel Bishop, Chris Goldsbrough, Sarah Martel.

Schedule:
Sunday 28 June
10am – men’s +100kg, -90kg, -73kg, -60kg, women’s -57kg.
Monday 29 June
10am – men’s -100kg, -81kg, -68kg, women’s -63kg.
Tuesday 30 June
Free
Wednesday 1 July
10am – team competition

Medal hopes: The Italian dynamo that is Mascherucci is certain to come away with gold, but don’t be surprised if a couple of the others, especially the jujitsu boys, do the same.
Good odds for the team event.