Hometown judoka Abby Lloyd was presented with the prestigious JudoBC Athlete of the Year award at the BC Provincials for Judo opening ceremonies last weekend in Abbotsford.
“I’ve always wanted the award,” said Abby. “I’ve gone through a lot over the last few years; I’m so honoured that they named me. It’s a dream come true.”
Abby, 15, a three-time Canadian national champion, not only competed in the shiai, or tournament, but also took five first-time Sunshine Coast Judo Club members to the tournament. She is no stranger to the tatami, or fighting mat, and has been grappling her way through opponents for the past 10 years as she makes a bid for 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Judo matches are short at only five minutes long but the one-on-one battles can be tough, tense and explosive, as fighters grapple for dominance against equally determined contenders.
Abby won her eighth gold medal in the under 18 female division at the provincial tournament.
“Abby went in and had four fights and took out a couple girls from the Lower Mainland and a few from Saskatchewan in seconds,” said Jeff Lloyd, Abby’s father. “She rumbled and smashed through everyone.”
At 33 years old, Kevin Côté was the oldest competitor in the Powell River contingent. He entered the novice division and won three of his four fights. He then thought he would challenge himself so he entered the intermediate division as well, said Jeff.
“He went two and two and with some fantastic throws,” he said. “The incredible power that he displayed was just phenomenal.”
Taiki Kawanami, an international student from Japan, entered the black-belt division but unfortunately didn’t win his two fights.
“He had a good learning experience,” said Jeff, “but it was a really tough division.”
The two Côté sisters Kristen and Katana both went undefeated through their fights and both won gold medals and were named BC champions.
Casey Hollingsworth came away from the tournament with a trophy and a bronze finish for competing in her division.
“She came up against a tough girl with a much higher belt than her in her first round and she lost that one but then she came back,” said Jeff. “She was actually winning her second fight but then slipped and fell and the girl fell on top of her and pinned her.” The opponent scored an ippon, which is an automatic win.
Abby will be training hard for the next few years, as she prepares to start her bid for the 2016 olympics. The Canadian Nationals tournament will be held in July 2013 in Richmond, BC.
