Golden double for Wolverhampton judo club

Carl Holland and Gwen Lloyd both topped the podium, while there was further success as their team-mate Grace Tolley bagged a bronze.

five of their members were selected to represent England in the Commonwealth Championships.

The four-day tournament was held at Wolverhampton University and had more than 940 people taking part from countries as far afield as India, Cyprus, South Africa and Malta, as well as the home nations.

Holland was crowned Commonwealth champion in the Veteran under 60 kg category, adding another prize to the armful of titles held by the 42-year-old this year. They include triumphs in both the British Championship and Scottish Open.

The string of success is even more remarkable because he is also a coach at the South Staffs Judo Club based in Codsall, but still manages to balance his training with teaching younger players the sport.

Lloyd was another Wolverhampton member to to emerge victorious from the event, striking gold in the under 70kg Cadets category, while her colleague Tolley took the bronze medal. Both beat players they had previously lost to and Lloyd showed her determination to win by finishing each of her contests with maximum points and well within the allocated time.

The 15-year-old rising star from Codsall has also enjoyed a triumph-packed year, picking up a host of titles that include the Heart of England, Northern Home Counties and London Open, as well as a bronze medal at the British Championships.

She is now set to represent her country at the Cadet European Cup in Slovenia later this month, further enhancing her international career. The club had five members taking aprt in the champions, with Joe Carpenter and Kim Humphriss also impressing to finish fifth in their categories.

Delighted team coach, Kevin O’Reilly declared: “The competition proved to be very tough with any number of competitors in various weight categories being able to take the title. However, both Carl and Gwen showed true grit in dominating their fights and not being nerved by the occasion.

“They started every contest in a positive manner and proved that they deserved the gold medal. It is great that we can still produce top level players who can compete at this level, following on from the success the club has had over the last 40 years.”

Their stars have triumphed in events around the globe and Wolverhampton proudly remains the only club to have had three members medal in the same world championship.