Five members of the Palmerston North Judo club won 9 medals at New Zealand Judo Champs held in Cowles Stadium in Christchurch over labour weekend.

Phoebe McNab and orange belt was awarded gold in the Junior Girls U32kg category. Her sister Sophie, a New Zealand representative to New Caledonia earlier this year, earned a silver in the Senior Girls U55kg category and was third equal in the Senior Girls open weight. Dylan Leney, a green belt, won silver in the Senior Boys U40kg category. Graham Lee, a 4th Dan from Australia, who has been coaching at the local club this year, earned two gold medals in the Masters Kata event. His kata partner was the club's chief coach Murray Boase who holds a 5th Dan. They presented the Nage no Kata, which consists of 15 throwing techniques done on the left and right sides, with Boase as Tori. Their second gold was for the Gatame no Kata which is comprised of 5 hold-downs, 5 chokes and 5 arm-bar, with Lee as Tori. Boase also won a gold in the Grandmasters Heavyweight Shiai category. Boase, who is also the club president said 9 medals including 6 golds from the nationals was a fantastic result for the local club which has 46 registered members.