Super Saturday for British Judo with 27 medals across five competitions

Today (14 March 2015) saw a fantastic day of results for British athletes competing all over the world in Senior, Junior, Cadet and Visually Impaired (VI) events.

In total, 27 medals were won across five competitions; the Montevideo Open, Casablanca Open, Junior European Judo Cup Coimbra, Cadet European Judo Cup Fuengirola and the VI Grand Prix Judo INFRAERO.

VI Success in Brazil

The British VI team took a stand out set of results with all four British athletes taking medals in Brazil at the Grand Prix Judo INFRAERO.

Natalie Greenhough (-70kg) took bronze with a superb showing, while Jack Hodgson (+100kg) carried on his rich vein of form taking a well earned silver medal, only losing out to World bronze medallist, Da Silva, competing in his home country of Brazil. Chris Skelley (-100kg) came through to win gold winning all three of his contests in ne-waza.

2014 IBSA World Championships bronze medallist, Jono Drane, took gold in the -81kg category, coming up against Jose Effron of Argentina in the final, showing his class to out work, out score and outwit a dangerous opponent.

Ian Johns, British Judo Paralympic Coach, said: “I am delighted with the team’s performance today. Natalie had a great day, taking bronze with a highlight of dispatching her first opponent with a huge Koshi guruma. Jack Hodgson took a well earned silver following his success at the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) World Games.

“Chris Skelley showcased clinical transitional work on his way to taking gold and Jono Drane showed why he is one of the top VI athletes in the world taking gold in the -81kg category.

“The team came second in the medal table with 4 medals out of 4, a superb effort by all. A special mention to a VI legend, Physio John Prescott who kept the team together and will have to do so over the next few days at a tough training camp. I am so proud of the team, professional to the end.”

GB second in medal table at Junior and Cadet European Cups

The British Junior and Cadet teams in Coimbra and Fuengirola respectively have collectively claimed five gold, six silver and nine bronze medals, alongside eight 5th places and five 7th places. As a result, Great Britain sits in second place in the medal tables at both competitions, with the cadets sitting behind host nation, Spain, with further medal opportunities for GB athletes tomorrow.

The -66kg category was a stand out group for the juniors, with GB athletes, Eric Ham, Aiden Moffat and Daniel Powell dominating the medals, collecting gold, silver and bronze respectively.

Peter Miles also took gold in Coimbra, with silver medals being also awarded to Chelsie Giles and Olivia Piechota. Bronze medals were taken by Colin MacDonald, Daniel Powell and Jodie Caller.

In Fuengirola, gold medals were taken by Harry Lovell-Hewitt, Chloe Nunn and Acelya Toprak, with silver medals awarded to Wesley Greenidge, Scott Thompson and Shelley Ludford, who was only denied gold by fellow Brit, Chloe Nunn in the -70kg category. Bronze medal winners included Daniel Mair, Sebastian Potter, Molly Harvey, Yasmin Javadian, Amy Platten and Olivia Spellman.

Congratulations to all the medallists and good luck to those competing tomorrow.

GB Women medal at Pan American Open Montevideo and African Open Casablanca

British judoka, Kelly Edwards (-52kg) took bronze today (14 March 2015) at the African Open in Casablanca. Despite losing out to France’s Louise Raynaud in a preliminary contest, Kelly fought back through repecharge to take the bronze medal beating fellow London 2012 Olympian, Marie Muller in the bronze medal contest.

Fellow British judoka, Connie Ramsay (-57kg) and Kim Renicks (-48kg) took bronze medals at the Pan American Open in Montevideo. The Scottish pair returned to competition today following the Pan American Open in Chile last week, with Ramsay follows on from her bronze medal, whilst Renicks improves on her 5th place also at the at the Pan American Open in Chile and steps on to the podium today.

Meanwhile, Lousie Renicks (-52kg) took a 5th place in Montevideo, alongside Nathon Burns (-66kg) who took a 7th place. Team Bath’s Gregg Varey (-66kg) returned from injury to pick up a 5th place at the African Open in Casablanca.

Further medal opportunities present themselves for the British athletes in both Montevideo and Casablanca as the competitions progress.

Follow the action at the Pan American Open Montevideo, African Open Casablanca, Cadet European Judo Cup Fuengirola and Junior European Judo Cup Coimbra at www.ippon.org