British judoka selected for European Cadet Championships in Montenegro

British Judo’s stars of tomorrow will compete at the European Cadet Championships from Thursday 22 June to Sunday 24 June in Bar, Montengro.

A 16-strong team of judoka from Judo England, Welsh Judo and Judo Scotland will fly the flag for Britain with selections based on the domestic ranking list.

Pinewood’s Emma Pang, the junior British Closed silver medallist, will compete in the -48kg category.

Renzoku Judo Club’s Jodie Caller, the Portugal European Cadets Cup winner and junior British Closed gold medallist, will see action in the -52kg field.

Scotland and Just Judo’s Eilish Walker, who competed at the continental showpiece in Malta last year, won 2011 British Championships cadets gold and will compete in the -57kg category. 

In the same category Lele Nairne of Bradley Stoke Judo Club, the 2012 Commonwealth cadets champion, will chase European glory.

Bishop Challoner Judo Club’s Lubjana Piovesana, who won 2011 British Championships cadets gold, battles at -63kg.

Enfield Judo Club’s Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz, the Ukraine European Cadets Cup winner and 2011 European Cadet Championships competitor, tackles the -70kg category alongside Wales and Gendros Judo Club’s Jodie Newell who took bronze at the Portugal European Cadets Cup.

Scotland and Dynamic Judo Club’s Michelle Boyle, the English Junior Open champion, challenges the continent’s elite cadets in the +70kg field.

Bradley Stoke’s Peter Miles, a two-time British Championships cadet gold medallist, sees action at -50kg along with Wolverhampton Judo Club’s Daniel Powell who won 2012 Commonwealth Championships cadets gold.

Scotland and JSJ Alloa’s Kieran Gehlan, the Portugal European Cup bronze medallist, tackles the -55kg category while compatriot and -60kg judoka Neil MacDonald of SJC Alba follows in the footsteps of his older brother Colin who, like Kieran, fought at the European showpiece last year.

Tonbridge Judo Club’s Enrico Atkinson, the English Junior Open bronze medallist, takes to the -66kg category with Moberly’s John Jayne who took cadets gold at the 2011 British Championships.

Westcroft Judo Club’s Jamal Petgrave, the 2012 Commonwealth Cadets Champion, competes at -81kg while Scotland and Edinburgh Judo Club’s Valentino Volante, the Portugal European Cadets Cup bronze medallist, completes the team at -90kg.

The team will participate in the next England Talent Development camp in Kendal from 9-11 June which will also feature 25 youngsters from Judo Scotland.

Trevor Sitlinton, England Squad Administrator, said: “There’s a lot of British judoka with significant potential who can perform well at this event. All have been active and participated in Cadet European Cups this year while several competed at this event last year.”