Judo ace Alex Goodrich is hoping to bounce back from injury during this weekend's British Youth Open in Sussex.

The 17-year-old, from Hadleigh, is on the mend following a couple of setbacks and is raring to prove it at the martial arts competition in Burgess Hill.

Mum Carol explained: "Alex recently went to Poland and Germany with the British junior men's judo squad.

"But he injured himself while he was over there, tearing the ligaments in his elbow.

Then when he got back to England he fell on the stairs and hurt himself again.

"Alex was at Bisham Abbey, where he trains with the National Judo Academy, but he took a tumble and ended up with six stitches in his head.

"These things happen, but he is getting over them now and will be looking forward to competing at the British Youth Open in Burgess Hill at the weekend."

Goodrich, a former pupil at Thundersley's Deanes School, has picked up silver medals in the English open, as well as European tournaments in both Russia and Sweden.

Published Friday August 27, 2004

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