PADYMURPHY wrote:
> The World Masters Judo Championships come to Londonderry from 20 - 23rd June.
> Participants in Master Judo are players aged 30 Plus.
> 
> Many will be arriving from Monday and the NI Judo Federation, in concert with
> Derry City Council, NI Events Company and other sponsors and supporters have
> organised a series of events around the World Championships proper. 
> When competition gets underway on Wednesday with a Kataa, the guests will
> participate in a Golf tournament at the Foyle club.
> In all some 43 countries will be represented: 27 European, 7 American (N,C&S),
> 2 Oceanic, 1 African (with 2 waiting FCO clearance) and 6 Asian, including
> Japan. 
> 500 players have been registered
> 
> Tokio will host next year's World Masters.
> Consequently several key figures in the sport, which although it is the
> national sport, is like Northern Ireland very dependent on volunteer support.
> Unlike Northern Ireland many Japanese sponsors are senior business figures with
> long connections and deep network within Japanese business culture.
> 
> One Guest of Honour is Hiromi Noguchi Vice Chairman of the Kodokan..
> 
> Also a guest from Japan is Ms Keiko Fukuda, a revered woman given the honour of
> Treasure of Japan some years ago. She is the highest ranked woman and has one
> of the highest rankings for Black Belts in the sport - 9th Dan. Now 89 years of
> age, her appearance as an honoured heroine of Judo in Derry will be of
> significant interest back in Japan.
> 
> The details of the World Masters Championships (Press Launch on Wednesday 12
> June at 1100 hrs in Foyle Golf Club) includes competition on Thursday, through
> to Sunday evening all based at the Derry Council managed Templemore Sports
> Complex. The event opening will have an Irish theme and Sunday's closing will
> have a Japanese theme and a handing -on to Tokio. A variety of social events, a
> series of helicopter tours and Foyle Lough boat trips have been included for
> the World Championships' participants and their supporters.
> 
> 
> Health Happiness and Pecae into the New Millennium, Paddy, Marie, Helen Lara
> and Mark Murphy

Any posting of the results as yet?  I am looking for information on how 
several friends did at the competition.

Neil