KEVIN ADSHADE
The News
The News
NEW GLASGOW – The 10th annual Blake Lumsden Memorial Judo Tournament gets under way Saturday at NRHS in Alma.
And organizers have decided this will be the final tournament to honour the memory of Lumsden, who died at age 14 in 1998. “Everyone felt that 10 years was a good run,” said co-ordinator Cindy Fraser.
“It’s been very successful, and we’re happy that it’s gone so well.”Lumsden, whose parents Dave and Anne Lumsden still live in New Glasgow, was a long-time member of the host Kanokai Judo Club and received his black belt posthumously after his September 1998 death.
The tournament that bears Blake Lumsden’s name began the following year and since that time, thousands of competitors have taken part in the event, considered the biggest judo tournament in Atlantic Canada.
“Anne and I can’t express enough our appreciation for Cindy Fraser and Donnie MacInnis,” said Dave Lumsden. “They were so influential in starting this tournament ten years ago.”
He said they decided it was the right time to make this the final Blake Lumsden Memorial, and that the tournament will begin in 2009 under a new name.
“Blake would be 24 years old now and a lot of his teammates have gone through the club and moved on. But we are proud they’ve done this for ten years.”
In the past the event had been restricted to competitors age 16 and under, but “we’ve included everyone,” for the final tournament, Fraser added. She also said the tournament has benefitted from the work of countless volunteers over the years.
New this year is the Momma & Poppa category, for parents who are involved with the sport along with their children. Opening ceremonies are at 9 a.m. Monday at NRHS, with the competition set to begin around 9:30 a.m.
Stellarton’s Oden Robichaud competed in the first memorial, and said there’s an element of sadness in the final one. “It’s only gotten bigger and better and all of sudden it’s disappearing,” said Robichaud. “It’s helped kept Blake’s memory alive.”
On Sunday, there will be a training camp led by Karl Doherty, a fifth-degree black belt who belongs to the Budokan Judo Club in Ontario.
FONTE: Pictou Country Nova Scotia News - New Glasgow,Nova Scotia,Canadahttp://www.ngnews.ca/
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