Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance

Sittingbourne/Kent, England... James Chico Hernandez, 53 of Washburn, Maine won the Silver medal in the Vets Division at the 2007 British Sambo Championship held March 24 at the Swallow Leisure Center in Sittingbourne.

Chico competed in the Open Class ( No Wt.Class) defeating Oktam of Uzbekistan 1-0 in the Quarterfinals. ( The first time he has ever beaten a Russian in Sombo)

He defeated returning Silver medalist Graham Mann of Norfolk, England by Total Victory in the semi-finals. Hernandez was leading 8-0 before he slam his opponent to his back while remaining standing for Total Victory. In his 40 plus lifetime Sombo Fights and competitions; it was Chico's very first time ever winning a Sambo Fight by Total Victory.

Chico was defeated by World Sambo /Kurash Medalist Darren Richardson, Portsmouth, England 2-0 in the finals.

This is Chico's third time he won British Silver. He also won in 2004 and 2005. Hernandez representing TEAM IRISH of Bangor and the American Sombo Association

"I thought before when I went over there that I was going to have a hard time making 90KG in the Open and they group everybody in the Vets (35 & over). Competing in the Vets it is not as easy as people would think it is. "

From my exprience You are fighting either professional instructors or season fighters who are no rookies at this. Just because someone is over 30 or competes in the Masters/Vets make winning the Division a peice of cake. There are very few cupscakes in competitions like these.

The guy I lost to in the finals 2-0 ( 1 passivity point and he capitolized on a crappy takedown attemp by me) ( I could of won this if my head was screwd on right before the fight) Darrin Richardson is a Profighter in the Cage Rage /Cage Warriors. ( The UFC in Briton). He is a Big Boy with a lot of strength and he has won many different kinds of Martial Art Discipline Tournaments and a few times a TRUE World SAMBO medallist.

I did get a 2nd.Bronze in the Open Division but it was a True 4th.pl not 3rdpl. that I medically forfeit to the eventual Champion Danny Carrot of England.

Everybody commented on how well my level of conditioning is and was thru the tournament. They were telling me that it appears that conditioning is no issues for me. Before I went over I felt it was going to be a issue.

I represented Maine once again in the ring of international competition proudly!