Smythe-Davis Strikes Gold Whilst Veterans Shine in Krakow

Riccione European Open

Nekoda Smythe-Davis (Coach: Jo Crowley; Club: Ealing JC) made a winning return to competition as she topped the podium on the opening day. Two-time World Championship medallist Smythe-Davis was competing in her familiar weight category, -57kg, after a fifth-place finish at the Oberwart European Open in the -63kg category last weekend.

Smythe-Davis defeated Tea Patri (ITA) in the opening round before victories against Faiza Mokdar (FRA) and Hasret Bozkurt (TUR) to win her Pool and progress to the Semi-Finals. Smythe-Davis then overcame Lou Lemire (FRA) and Tihea Topolovec (CRO) to claim gold.

Speaking after the competition, Smythe-Davis said: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, it has just been such a long journey back. A year since having my baby girl and I wasn’t sure if I would make it back and fighting in -57kg. It has been a case of trusting the process and taking baby steps to get back, I don’t feel like I’m a special case, I’m just a hard worker.”

There was more medal success for GB Judo on day two when Kelly Petersen-Pollard (Fitzroy Davis; Hardy Spicer 83) claimed bronze in the -70kg category. Competing for the first time since claiming Commonwealth Games bronze, Petersen-Pollard defeated Shaked Amihai (ISR) and Alina Lengweiler (SUI), following an opening round bye to win her Pool and progress to the Semi-Finals. Defeat to eventual silver medallist Mina-Agneta Ricken (GER) progressed Petersen-Pollard to the bronze medal contest where she defeated Kaila Issoufi (FRA).

Also in Riccione, there were 7^th place finishes for Finlay Allan (Luke Preston; Camberley JC) (-66kg) and Chloe Robyns-Landricombe (Tom Reed; Team Bath) (-52kg).

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World Veteran Championships

The IJF World Veteran Championships headed to Poland last week. Krakow played host to over 830 competitors with 21 GB Judoka in action.

There were two GB Judo champions crowned as Natasha Glassford (F1 -63kg) and Danielle Batt (F2 -70kg) both topped the podium. Glassford was competing at her third World Veteran Championships whilst Batt was making her debut.

Competing at his 4^th World Veteran Championships, Colin Francis (M2 -60kg) won silver, to match his results from the 2019 championships. There were also silver medals for Samantha Chraniuk (F3 -63kg)and Nicholas Kokotaylo (M8 +100kg).

Bogdan Lica (M4 +100kg) won bronze to match his result from the 2021 championships whilst 2018 European Veteran Champion, Joyce Malley (F7 -63kg) also claimed a bronze medal.

There were 5^th place finishes for Nicholas Brace (M4 -73kg), Roy Walker (M4 -81kg), Joseph Williams (M6 +100kg), Adrian Besly (M7 -81kg) and Kevin Kinney (M7 -90kg) whilst Giovanny Antalika (M4 -66kg) finished 7^th.

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