RELATED:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
AS SOMEONE who makes his living in the horse racing industry, Eaglehawk’s Caine Stuart knows the importance of breeding.
It’s something that has served the 18-year-old well in his other sporting passion of judo.
Stuart has always been surrounded by judo.
His father Stephen is a former Oceania champion, while his sister Shayanne has accumulated a steady string of national and tournament successes over the past decade and was once an Australian Institute of Sport's national talent identification squad member.
Shayanne came within a whisker of qualifying for the Australian team for the 2012 London Olympics, her campaign undone by a poorly-timed arm injury.
Stuart, who is a five-time national champion in his own right, said he owed much of his success to his family ties.
“I pretty much grew up around judo,” said Stuart, who by day is a stable hand and track work rider at Darren Weir Racing’s Maldon operation.
“Dad used to be my coach and my sister is basically my mentor and coach.
“It’s a unique set-up with everyone having been involved.”
Stuart is continuing the long line of family and personal success and will later this month head to Russia and Germany for the Cadet European Judo Cup.
His selection comes on the back of impressive performances in 2017 at the World Judo Championships in Chile and his gold medal win at the Oceania Continental Judo Championships in Tonga in April.
Stuart, who competes in the under-50kg division, is also the reigning national cadets under-18 champion, after winning the title on the Gold Coast last June.
Stuart said he was counting days until his departure on March 21.
“It’s sneaking up quickly, but it’s getting exciting,” he said.
“I’m quite nervous, but have the feel for international competition now after the world championships.
“I shouldn’t be so nervous, but there’s still a few nerves.”
Stuart will be part of a 10-member Australian contingent heading overseas, with six male and four female judo players.
He leaves on March 21, but will have no shortage of competitions in the meantime to keep him prepared.
This weekend Stuart will head to the Gold Coast for the Queensland International, where he will compete in both the under-18 and under-21 divisions.
Next weekend he will contest the Melbourne International.
Stuart currently trains once a week at the Bendigo Judo Academy in Eaglehawk and twice a week alongside his sister at the Preston Judo Club in Melbourne.
His overseas adventure will include participation in a European Judo Union training camp in Russia.