What a year for Hayley Willis, u44kgs - Stratford Judokwai

European Cadet Championships – Bronze
European Youth Olympics – Bronze
World Cadet Championships – 5^th
Junior World Championships – Bronze

Stratford’s Hayley Willis has had a fantastic year.  The year started with winning the GB Junior Trials, then
picking up a Silver at the Thuringen International. This was followed by a Gold at the Czech Republic European Cup. 

The first of several major tournaments for young Hayley was the European Cadet Championships held in Malta in June. Following two wins, this put Hayley into the semi finals against the Russian who unfortunately beat her, but this put Hayley into the Bronze fight which she went on to win. 

Next event down the line was the European Youth Olympics Festival in Turkey a month later. A loss in the first fight dropped Hayley straight into the recharge where she battled back to win three fights and pick up another Bronze. 

These two performances guaranteed her selection at the Cadet World Championships in the Ukraine in August.  Hayley lost in the quarter finals again the same Russian girl from the Europeans, and dropped to the recharge. Unfortunately Hayley was unable to get past the competitor from Brazil for the Bronze, but still came away with an impressive 5^th place.

The next event was a step up for Hayley, to the Junior World Championships in South Africa. Hayley started off strong with wins over the American, French and Spanish, her loss in the semi to the Brazilian meant she faced the Serbian (2010 Junior European Champion) for the Bronze fight, which Hayley battled through and became the winner and added a Junior World Bronze medal to her impressive haul this year. 

To top off a great year Hayley has been selected to form part of the British Olympic Squad for 2012, along side our other London players Ashley McKenzie and Winston Gordon.