Dereham Times > Sport
England call for Shipdham judo ace
Published: 10:49 AM December 30, 2009 Updated: 12:56 PM October 6, 2020
He has gone toe to toe with the nation's best judo fighters and has come out with his head held high.And now Tom Turner from Shipdham is taking the battle to the Far East after winning a place in England's Commonwealth Judo Championships team, writes Ben Wood.
He has gone toe to toe with the nation's best judo fighters and has come out with his head held high.
And now Tom Turner from Shipdham is taking the battle to the Far East after winning a place in England's Commonwealth Judo Championships team, writes Ben Wood.
The 20-year-old first dan black belt will fly to Singapore on January 7 to compete in the where he will face competitors from over 70 countries.
His ultimate dream is to be part of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Turner began judo when he was 14 years old, but it was not until he joined the Kumo Judo Club in North Lopham, near Diss, 11 years ago that he began to flourish at the sport.
Competing at regional, national, and international levels he has received numerous awards including gold medals this year in the Ishin Rue Internationals, the AJA Nationals, the Eastern Area competition, and at events in Navelles and Rotterdam.
As well as participating in events, he also teaches youngsters at the Kumo Judo Club and the Marham Judo Club, and is currently setting up a new after-school club for pupils at the Thomas Bullock Primary School in Shipdham.