Young judo ace learns from her idol at National Championships
Published Date: 21 July 2009
CUCKFIELD'S teenage Judo ace Shelley Jackson enjoyed a fantastic day competing for the Southern Area in the National Team Championships at the weekend.
Competing in Liverpool the 16-year-old not only fought in the junior girls' team but also received a surprise call up to the senior team that scooped gold on the day, acting as reserve for none other than former commonwealth gold medalist Simone Callender.
CUCKFIELD'S teenage Judo ace Shelley Jackson enjoyed a fantastic day competing for the Southern Area in the National Team Championships at the weekend.
Competing in Liverpool the 16-year-old not only fought in the junior girls' team but also received a surprise call up to the senior team that scooped gold on the day, acting as reserve for none other than former commonwealth gold medalist Simone Callender.
Shelley, a member of the Mid Sussex Martial Arts School (MSMAS) in Scaynes Hill, was outside the medals in the junior section, but said the experience of shadowing someone of Callender's stature more than made up for the disappointment.
Shelley, a bronze medalist at the British Trials in January, said: "I was really really surprised to be made reserve for a player of such a high level and someone who is quite famous and throughout the day I got to speak to her.
"She helped me a lot, not necessarily just while I was on the mat competing but while we were watching others fighting." County champion Shelley made such an impression on her mentor for the day that she was personally invited to train with Simone at her famous Budokwai in London.
FONTE (foto incluída): Mid Sussex Times
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