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Jiu-jitsu: Gracie Barra juniors heading to European Championships

Manx club senior competitors also in Dublin this weekend

A big weekend of international competition awaits for members of Manx jiu-jitsu club Gracie Barra.

A group of juniors from the Island club are set to take part in the prestigious European Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship, with several senior athletes participating in the Dublin Fall International Open.

Both events take place from 2-3 December at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

Two of the juniors heading to the European championship - Alan Greenhalgh and Iona Meban - told Manx Radio what they enjoy most about being part of the club and taking part in these competitions:

Elsewhere, Gracie Barra coach Jamie Mayers and adult member Sarah Redmond have praised the community spirit within the club as part of its success in recent years:

This year so far has been another productive one for the local squad at both junior and senior level.

Back in August it took its largest ever medal haul in a single event, claiming 34 individual honours and two team trophies at the All Stars BJJ Liverpool Pro.

More recently, there were 17 more medals for Gracie Barra at the Compnet UK National Tournament in Wolverhampton whilst 2022 British Nogi Champion, Hayley Curtis took two bronze medals at the IBJJF Nogi European Championship in Rome, Italy last month.

Curtis is also hoping to compete at the IBJJF World Nogi Championship in Las Vegas, USA from 7-9 December.

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