Camberley Judo Club (CJC) is delighted to announce that three players will be on spotlight in July. Ashley McKenzie, Owen Livesey and Szandra Szogedi all secured their place to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
70 days to go until the 2014 Commonwealth Games opens the door for all to experience the third biggest mega-event.
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from theCommonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada; and has taken place every four years ever since (except 1942 and 1946 which were cancelled due to World War II). The games are described as the third largest multi-sport event in the world, after the Olympic Games and the Asian Games.
The last Commonwealth Games to be host within the United Kingdom was in 2002, Manchester. So who are the athletes we have to look out for in Glasgow 2014?
London 2012 Olympian, Ashley McKenzie will be stepping up on the first day in the -60kg category alongside Szandra Szogedi, who will be competing in the -57kg category. The second day of the tournament we will have to look out for Owen Livesey in the -81kg category.
Head coach of CJC, Luke Preston expressed his view about the line-up for the Games:
“Well, we had the possibility for five players to compete, but Nathon Burns and Danny Williams just missed out on selection. Having said that, I am really pleased that three of our athletes will be competing. Moreover, all the three of them are capable of winning the gold medal.”
What would those ‘golds’ would mean to you as a coach?
LP: “To win a Commonwealth gold at the games will be great, but not only for me, for the athletes, the club and the borough too… Especially for the club itself; if everyone medals it will be great for our members, supporters and sponsors to see Camberley elite athletes in the lime light on world stage.”
2014 Commonwealth Games’ Schedule:
24 July 2014 – Male: U60kg (Ashley McKenzie) /U66kg Female: U48kg/U52kg/U57kg (Szandra Szogedi)
25July 2014 – Male: U73kg/U81kg (Owen Livesey) Female: U63kg/U70kg
For further information please visit: https://www.glasgow2014.com/games/sports/judo
Keep up to date on our website on The Official Camberley Judo Club Facebook page.
Players’ Profile
Ashley McKenzie
Age: 24
Weight category: -60kg
Club: Camberley Judo Club (CJC)
Country: England
Best results:
2012 London Olympian – competitor
Senior European Championships – Bronze
U23 European Championships – Gold
Favourite technique: Tai-otoshi
Favourite quote: ‘BMT’ – Big man thing
When, where and how did you start judo?
It was a funny story… I got thrown on the playground one day and I asked my mate what did just happen, where I got the answer: ‘it was a judo throw’. That moment I decided I want to go and try judo myself, and I loved it after the first session.
When did you decide to have judo as your lifestyle?
It did not happen overnight. I wasn’t the best at school, and as years passed by I realised that I did not want to do anything else except became the best at what I am passionate about and this is judo.
When did you move to CJC?
2 years ago
What does it mean to you to represent your country at the second biggest Mega-Event?
Great! I am doing the sport I love and that is indescribable. I love that people who love me are watching and I like to me them proud.
What will be your main focus leading up to the Commonwealth Games?
The most important for me right now is to get my grip right and just keeping my head right too.
Will you settle for less than gold?
No! I know I am capable of gold, so I don’t think of less than that.
‘Proud to be part of CJC’:
It’s like my family… we care for each other and never let others to take us down.
List of results throughout the commonwealth qualification:
Due to my previous achievements, I did not have to go through all the qualification events; however I had to perform well at other high level tournaments to keep my spot secured.
Follow Ashley on:
Twitter: @ashleymckenzi12
Ashley’s website: http://www.ashleymckenzie.co.uk/#!shop-commonwealth-range-/c1p7k
Owen Livesey
Age: 22
Weight category: -81kg
Club: Camberley Judo Club (CJC)
Country: England
Best results:
Pan American Open, Montevideo, Uruguay – Silver
Pan American Open, Buenos Aires, Argentina – Silver
European Cup, Malaga – Silver
Favourite technique: Uchi – Mata
Favourite quote: ‘You get out what you put in’
When, where and how did you start judo?
I started Judo when I was 8 years old at a feeder club for Skk Judo Club in Sutton, St Helens. I played a lot of rugby league at the time and my dad took me along to help with the physical side.
When did you decide to have judo as your lifestyle?
At around 14 years old I was told to continue with rugby league I had to quit Judo. I wasn’t up for doing this and stopped rugby instead to continue with Judo.
When did you move to CJC?
I moved to Camberley in November 2013.
What does it mean to you to represent your country at the second biggest Mega-Event?
To represent my country in any tournament is great for me. I work very hard every day at Camberley so to be selected and see my work is not going unnoticed is great. The bigger the tournament is the better the opportunity which is just a bonus for me.
What will be your main focus leading up to the Commonwealth Games?
I will treat this tournament as I treat any other. I will be training as hard as possible up to the tournament and I will be ready when the day comes. Then I can just enjoy it and hopefully win.
Will you settle for less than gold?
I will be aiming for Gold in this tournament. My preparation will be good, some strong tournaments and training camps so come the day there shall be no reason I can’t win gold.
‘Proud to be part of CJC’:
I love training at Camberley and love being part of the team. It’s a great atmosphere here, everybody works hard and Luke is a quality coach. We also have a lot of support from people around the club who make sure we don’t go without anything.
List of results throughout the commonwealth qualification:
British Championships – Gold
European Cup, Malaga – Silver
Pan American Open, Montevideo, Uruguay – Silver
Pan American Open, Buenos Aires, Argentina – Silver
European Cup, London, Great Britain – Bronze
Follow Owen on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/owen.livesey.5?fref=ts
Twitter: @LiveseyJudo81
Szandra Szogedi
Age: 26
Weight category: -57kg
Club: Camberley Judo Club (CJC)
Country: Ghana
Best results:
Senior Continental Championships – Bronze
Grand Prix – 5th Place
University World Games – 9th Place
Favourite technique: Ure-nage
Favourite quote: ‘No-one is going to come to your house and make your dreams become true.’
When, where and how did you start judo?
I started judo in Hungary, where I was born. I was 11 years old when I first stepped on the tatami and that is thanks to my older sister. She was a very good judoka and her success inspired me to start judo and follow her.
When did you decide to have judo as your lifestyle?
It was always one of my goals to be able to call myself an elite athlete in my own discipline. Back home we never did any sports as a hobby so I did not have an actual time frame when I had to make a decision to take it serious. I always did it seriously since childhood.
When did you move to CJC?
Well, I moved here only few months ago, but I have to say that it was one of the best decisions I made in my life.
What does it mean to you to represent your country at the second biggest Mega-Event?
Well, as I said, I was born in Hungary. Shortly after I moved to the UK, I met my lovely husband who is also a judoka, and we decided that I will represent Ghana. For me this tournament is very important because I will be up to make history for our country. Ghana never had a female Commonwealth Games medallist, so it is all up to me now to make it happen.
What will be your main focus leading up to the Commonwealth Championships?
I still have my continental championships in few weeks’ time so I must say that is my number one focus now and once I am done with that than we will finalise my preparation with my coach, Luke Preston.
Will you settle for less than gold?
It is judo, anything can happen. Of course I will be going for gold and realistically it is also achievable. With a great preparation I cannot see any reason why I should not win it.
‘Proud to be part of CJC’:
I only been here few months but I can safely say this is my second family. It is priceless to be surrounded with such an amazing team. We hard together and we all support each other no matters what. I have been in many clubs and I must say there is nothing like this…
List of results throughout the commonwealth qualification:
Because of my continental bronze medal I won earlier I automatically qualified myself to the Games.
Follow Szandra on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Szandra-Szogedi/660734247325882?fref=ts
Twitter: @szandra57
Pictures from:
Ashleys’ – Evening Standard
Owen’s – British Judo website
Szandra’s – personal
