British Judo selects teams for inaugural European Open events

British Judo has selected men’s and women’s teams to compete in the inaugural European Open events (formerly World Cup) on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 February.

The International Judo Federation has rebranded World Cup’s in a bid to clarify to everyone outside of the sport that the Continental Championships, World Championships and Olympic Games are judo’s leading events.

The European Opens on the first weekend in February will also see the International Judo Federation’s new rules being implemented for the first time as the European Judo Union adopts the same rulings which will be tested until the 2013 World Championships in August. (Please click here for full details of the new rules)

A six-man team will compete in the European Open for men in Tbilisi, Georgia while a five-strong women’s team competes at the European Open for women in Sofia, Bulgaria.

2013 British Championships bronze medallist Graham Trinder campaigns in the -60kg field while former Junior European bronze medallist Lewis Keeble sees action in the -66kg category.

London 2012 Olympian Danny Williams and 2013 British Championships silver medallist Patrick Dawson both bid for honours in the -73kg category.

2013 British Championships silver medallist Andy Burns fights in the -90kg category while London 2012 Olympian Chris Sherrington takes on the leading heavyweight forces in the +100kg category.

Lewis Keeble said: “I’m very excited to compete in my first European Open of the year, and the announcement of new rules will make the event even more interesting.

“I feel good coming out of the British Championships and look forward to building up form as I start the competition phase of training.”

Scotland’s 2013 British Champions Kimberley Renicks and Connie Ramsay compete at -48kg and -57kg respectively.

Faith Pitman takes to the -63kg category while Megan Fletcher fights at -70kg after both judoka claimed gold at the British Championships.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix silver medallist Natalie Powell fights in the -78kg category.

Kimberley Renicks said: “I’m feeling positive and very motivated about the competition. It will be interesting to fight with the new rules changes.

“I’m finding the new rules ok, we’ve been working on them a lot this week in particular and we’ll adjust as much as possible before the competition.”

On the same weekend a nine-strong team will compete at the Belgium Open with the men’s tournament taking place in Vise and women’s in Arlon.

Former British Open winner Nathon Burns fights at -66kg while 2011 Junior European silver medallist Max Stewart aims for honours in the -81kg category alongside five-time European Cup medallist Tom Reed.   

Two-time European Cup silver medallist Michael Horley takes to the -90kg category with rising stars Philip-Awiti Alcaraz and Ben Fletcher set to go toe-to-toe with the -100kg field.

Philip-Awiti Alcaraz said: “This is my first senior selection, I’m looking forward to going out there and I’ll be going to make my mark.”

2013 Junior British champions and senior medallists Hayley Willis, Nekoda Davis and Amy Livesey will all fight in Arlon. Hayley competes at -48kg while Nekoda takes to the tatami at -57kg and Amy fights in the -70kg category. 

Amy Livesey said: “I am looking forward to my first competition abroad this year, I’m feeling strong after the British Championships and ready to compete in Belgium in next week.”

London 2012 Olympian and 2011 European bronze medallist Sophie Cox, who took gold at the 2013 British Championships, completes the selection at -57kg. 

2013 Tbilisi European Open for Men, 2-3 February 2013, Tbilisi, Georgia:

2013 Sofia European Open for Women, 2-3 February 2013, Sofia, Bulgaria:

2013 Belgium Men’s Open, 2-3 February 2013, Vise, Belgium:

2013 Belgium Women’s Open, 2-3 February 2013, Arlon, Belgium: