Cardiff, UK – Eleven-year-old Stanley Halfacre, of Higham and Rushden Judo Club, has been crowned British Minor Judo Champion after a stunning gold medal performance at the national championships held in Cardiff on Sunday, 3rd August.

Competing in the fiercely contested over 50kg category, Stanley showcased exceptional strength, skill, and determination, defeating each of his opponents with a combination of solid groundwork and powerful standing techniques. His dominant performance earned him the top spot on the podium, making him the new British Minor Champion in his weight class.

This victory is especially sweet for Stanley, who narrowly missed out on gold at last year’s championships due to a controversial refereeing decision. Undeterred, he returned this year with renewed focus and a clear determination to claim the title he so richly deserved.

Stanley’s performance was nothing short of inspiring. He’s trained hard all year, and you could see just how much it meant to him to finally take the gold.

British Champion Stanley (2nd from left) on the podium

placeholder image — British Champion Stanley (2nd from left) on the podium

But behind “Stan the man”, there is obviously a whole team- his family, the coaching team and the club supporters! The dedication of his coaches and the support of his family and community clearly paid off on the mat.

With this impressive win, Stanley not only secures his place as one of the most promising young judokas in the country, but also serves as a shining example of resilience and perseverance in sport.

Stanley was one of the 5 young Higham and Rushden Judo Club hopefuls who ventured out to Cardiff last weekend. His team mates Isabella (9), Josh (10), Tasker (11) and Tommy (9) battled hard in their weight categories too, and all finished 9th, apart from Tasker who lost in the battle for the bronze medal, finishing 5th.

Stanley winning gold put a smile on all of the Higham and Rushden Judo club supporters- those who went to Cardiff, as well as those eagerly awaiting the news at home.

In Stanleys words, “I started judo four years ago. With the training and commitment of my coaches Rob Price and Mark Brayfield, my fitness, agility and confidence grew. Competitions soon followed and extra sessions specifically for competitions with coach Megan Price were added to my usual regime. The commitment by everyone involved at the club has had a great deal to do with my success- the senior judoka really get behind all the children at the club. With the club’s masterclasses run by Olympians, European champions and commonwealth gold medallists I have enjoyed experiences other 11 year olds may envy.”

The judo community will be watching closely as Stanley continues his journey — and after this weekend’s performance, the future certainly looks golden.