Judo runs in the family for Enfield fabulous five

Three members of the same family will be fighting at this weekend’s British Championships where each member hopes to follow their younger brother who scooped gold at last weekend’s Pre-Cadet Championships at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) in Sheffield.

Enfield Judo Club’s Samy Awiti-Alcaraz, 13, stepped to the top of the podium last weekend as he won a gold medal at last weekend’s pre-cadet championships.

Samy beat Artur Patemian by ippon to win gold in the pre-cadet boys’ under-38kg event.

In doing so he became the latest member of the successful judo family from North London to medal at this level, just as brothers Philip, 21, Joshua, 17, and sister Prisca, have done before him. Little brother Michea, aged six is just starting out in judo too.

Speaking of his win, Samy said: “It feels really great to win gold. I felt very happy that all the hard work has paid off. We all went out as a family to celebrate and ate a good meal.”

Prisca, who is a six time national champion, and has also won silver and bronze is looking forward to the event. She says she feels “more ready than ever” for the challenge:

“I’m really proud of my little brother winning last week, she said.

“We were there to cheer him on. I am so proud that all of my four brothers and myself are all doing judo.

“I am really looking forward to the Championships. I feel more ready than ever as I have been training really hard with judo twice a day.

“Competition-wise I’ve been doing the national rounds. I was really proud of my fifth placing at the Junior European cup in Italy and next year my aim is to medal at the European cups and qualify for the Junior Europeans.

Seventeen-year-old Joshua (-66kg) steps up to the junior level this year, having competed at cadet level. He has been training hard and this year he took bronze at the Flanders cup.

He said: “It was really good to see my younger brother win gold as a pre-cadet, it reminds me of when i was competing at his age. I am really looking forward to the Junior Championships. I have put in a lot of preparation so I expect to do well.”

Elder brother Philip, who competes internationally will also be cheering on his siblings, although not competing. In fact Philip was the first to get involved in judo following in the footsteps of his cousins. One by one each of the siblings followed him into competing nationally.

The youngest and final brother Micheal, aged six, has now begun taking judo proving that the Awiti-Alcaraz clan are all unstoppable.

And the judo links don’t stop there. Their father Xavier is the club’s welfare officer. The family has Mexican and Kenyan heritage. Their cousins and uncles all compete at the club too.

Enfield Judo Club coach George Hyslop said: “We had a brilliant weekend at the cadet championships and took five medals out of five. This weekend we are also looking forward to the event and bringing back some more silverware.”

At last weekend’s event the five entrants from Enfield all took medals.

Wesley Greenidge fully justified his number one ranking in the over-90kg cadet category as he won his first national title with a series of impressive performances.

Taylor Bowden was equally impressive in the cadet boys’ under-46kg event, beating his long-term nemesis Daniel Holt by ippon to book his place in the final, where he eventually suffered a narrow defeat against top seed Harry Tredaway.

There was also a silver medal for 14-year-old Georgia Greenidge – competing in an under-18 tournament for the first time – as she excelled in the cadet girls’ over-60kg event.

Michal Wensierski bounced back from losing to eventual winner Harry Lovell Hewitt to secure a richly deserved bronze medal in the cadet boys’ under-81kg category.

Watch this space

Wesley Greenidge will be back in action this weekend along with Rhys Thompson.

Prisca, Joshua and Wesley will be fighting in the juniors Saturday with Prisca in the senior event on Sunday.

Enfield Judo Club, which is based at the Nightingale Academy in Turin Road, Edmonton, is always on the lookout for new members.

Anyone interested should contact George Hyslop on 07799 770919.