Tora judo tourney a season highlight
Wednesday April 23 2008
Frank Juzenas, Staff Writer
Frank Juzenas, Staff Writer
While there have been a lot of changes in the last 29 years, one thing that has not diminished in popularity is the Tora Judo Club Invitational Tournament.
This weekend, as the club holds its 29th annual tournament at Terry Miller Recreation Centre it promises to be one of the biggest and best ever.
Tournament director Fran McCrodden said advance registration for the two-day tournament is at more than 600 (last year drew 548). While the majority of athletes will be from Canada and the U.S., this year there is even a team of five that has registered from Romania.
With modern technology word about the tournament can easily spread. The tournament has its own page on Facebook. That is just one of the methods that no one had even heard about 29 years ago.
"Back then we only had the post office,'' (to take registrations),'' said McCrodden.
She said over the years the tournament has also added equipment to the point where it is self-sufficient, except for mats.
With four mat areas there is plenty of activity going on at any time. There is also the need for a large group of volunteers, McCrodden said there is a crew of about 80, that looks after things like timekeeping, registration and preparing meals for the referees.
One reason that the tournament has kept going and been successful is the work of McCrodden, who continues to run the event even though she moved to Campbellford, about a three-hour drive away several years ago. During the tournament she will stay in a hotel.
Her work for the sport has put her in the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame and she is the team manager for Team Ontario at the Senior Nationals later this summer in Quebec City.
Greg Butrey, the media coordinator for Judo Ontario said so many people continue to come out to support the Tora event because of the respect they have for McCrodden.
"Everybody wants to come out to Fran's tournament, it's always run in an orderly fashion,'' he said.
He said the Toro tournament rates with another held in Buffalo New York in May as the biggest in North America.
"It's gratifying to see 600 plus judokas, it's great for Fran, it's great for the Tora Club and it's great for the sport of judo,'' he said.
Another aspect that has made the Tora tournament popular it that top three finishers are given unique awards each year, which makes them highly prized.
McCrodden said one area of growth in recent years has been in the Masters divisions, for those aged 30 and older. In many cases athletes who competed as youngsters return to the sport as adults, bringing their own children to the events.
The quality of judokas who take part is also high. One example comes from the Tora Club, Nicole Jenicek, who has been at the Tora tournament in the past.
She is one of Canada's top young prospects and is attending a national team training camp this week in Montreal. In May she has been named to go to an international tournament in Germany and has qualified for the senior national championships.
Of the more than 600 athletes expected this weekend not many of them will ever achieve that level but compete for the fitness and enjoyment they receive.
Last year, because the ice remained at Terry Miller longer than usual, the tournament had to switch locations to the Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre but it has returned to its usual spot.
Ages from about six or seven to the Masters level will be competing. On Saturday juniors and juveniles participate with the Sunday schedule beginning with kata (forms) at 9 a.m. Both days the tournament begins at 10 a.m. Spectator admission remains at $1.
Terry Miller Recreation Centre is at 1295 Williams Parkway E.
This weekend, as the club holds its 29th annual tournament at Terry Miller Recreation Centre it promises to be one of the biggest and best ever.
Tournament director Fran McCrodden said advance registration for the two-day tournament is at more than 600 (last year drew 548). While the majority of athletes will be from Canada and the U.S., this year there is even a team of five that has registered from Romania.
With modern technology word about the tournament can easily spread. The tournament has its own page on Facebook. That is just one of the methods that no one had even heard about 29 years ago.
"Back then we only had the post office,'' (to take registrations),'' said McCrodden.
She said over the years the tournament has also added equipment to the point where it is self-sufficient, except for mats.
With four mat areas there is plenty of activity going on at any time. There is also the need for a large group of volunteers, McCrodden said there is a crew of about 80, that looks after things like timekeeping, registration and preparing meals for the referees.
One reason that the tournament has kept going and been successful is the work of McCrodden, who continues to run the event even though she moved to Campbellford, about a three-hour drive away several years ago. During the tournament she will stay in a hotel.
Her work for the sport has put her in the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame and she is the team manager for Team Ontario at the Senior Nationals later this summer in Quebec City.
Greg Butrey, the media coordinator for Judo Ontario said so many people continue to come out to support the Tora event because of the respect they have for McCrodden.
"Everybody wants to come out to Fran's tournament, it's always run in an orderly fashion,'' he said.
He said the Toro tournament rates with another held in Buffalo New York in May as the biggest in North America.
"It's gratifying to see 600 plus judokas, it's great for Fran, it's great for the Tora Club and it's great for the sport of judo,'' he said.
Another aspect that has made the Tora tournament popular it that top three finishers are given unique awards each year, which makes them highly prized.
McCrodden said one area of growth in recent years has been in the Masters divisions, for those aged 30 and older. In many cases athletes who competed as youngsters return to the sport as adults, bringing their own children to the events.
The quality of judokas who take part is also high. One example comes from the Tora Club, Nicole Jenicek, who has been at the Tora tournament in the past.
She is one of Canada's top young prospects and is attending a national team training camp this week in Montreal. In May she has been named to go to an international tournament in Germany and has qualified for the senior national championships.
Of the more than 600 athletes expected this weekend not many of them will ever achieve that level but compete for the fitness and enjoyment they receive.
Last year, because the ice remained at Terry Miller longer than usual, the tournament had to switch locations to the Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre but it has returned to its usual spot.
Ages from about six or seven to the Masters level will be competing. On Saturday juniors and juveniles participate with the Sunday schedule beginning with kata (forms) at 9 a.m. Both days the tournament begins at 10 a.m. Spectator admission remains at $1.
Terry Miller Recreation Centre is at 1295 Williams Parkway E.
FONTE: Caledon Enterprise - Bolton,ON,Canada
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