Newcastle Open - December 2018

Versus Grappling presents the August leg of the Newcastle Open. This event will include the regular gi and no-gi divisions for grapplers aged 16+.

The event takes place on Sunday 9th December, and will be held in the main hall of Benfield Centre for Sporting Excellence.

Early registration is £25 for one division, or £35 for both.

Limited numbers, pre-registration only, there will be no sign-ups on the day, no exceptions.

The events will be contested under standard IBJJF rules which can be found at: http://ibjjf.org/referees/rules/

Cups are not permitted. Rashguards are not permitted under the gi for male competitors.

The competition is open to all belt divisions. There are masters divisions for competitors aged 30 or over.

Judo black belts, professional MMA fighters and those who have wrestled at a national level are ineligible to compete at white belt and must enter at blue belt minimum regardless of BJJ grade.

In divisions where numbers allow we will run repechage guaranteeing two matches. Absolutes will run, time permitting. We will cap the absolutes at 16 competitors and will take registrations for the divisions on the day. Medalists will be given first refusal for the absolutes.

Competitors can inform the organiser of a change in weight division up until the day after registration closes, no changes in division will be considered after this date and any competitor who fails to make weight on the day will be disqualified without any possibility of a refund.

We regret that we are no longer able to offer refunds or future entry credit for withdrawals, and there will be no transfers offered in the event of a no-show. All payments must be made via PayPal or Stripe ahead of the event.

Divisions with fewer than four competitors may be merged with the next highest weight category or moved to the adult division in the event of masters entries.

All competitors must make weight on our scales (a 0.4kg allowance is awarded). Competitors who are competing in both gi and no-gi in the same weight division may weigh in just once, with the gi on, to confirm eligibility for both divisions. Those competing in different weight divisions for gi and no-gi must weigh in separately for each division.

We Guarantee

All competitors will get a minimum of two matches, if their division has three or more competitors.

Competitors may weigh in at any point from 9.00AM on the morning of the event, up to 30 minutes before the start of their division.

Competitors will be called to warm up 15 minutes before their division is due to start.

We will run three mats to ensure a prompt finish.

The adult/master categories will be completed and the medals presented by 5.00PM

Medals will be presented upon completion of each division.

The competitor list will be posted online at least 2 days before the event, along with approximate division start times.

Results will be posted online within 24 hours of the event.

The organizers will operate a zero-tolerance policy on unsportsmanlike conduct and the harassment of competitors, spectators or event staff.