Tough end to Cadet Europeans for GB Judo

It proved to be a tough end to the 2018 Cadet European Judo Championships in Sarajevo for GB Judo on Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July.

Saturday was the final day of individual competition as the heavyweight judoka took to the mat.

Oliver Barratt (-90kg) was first on the mat as he took on Dutch fighter Axel Heeren. Barratt went behind early on but was able to get a score back and level things up with over half the fight left.

However, in the final minute it was Heeren who took the win as he threw Barratt for waza-ari.

Fellow -90kg judoka Max Gregory lost a close contest with Stanislav Banchuk (ISR) with a waza-ari in the final minute proving decisive for the Israeli judoka.

At +90kg Beau Farrance was involved in a physical and tactical contest with Hungary’s Donat Varga with both judoka picking up two shidos in normal time. The contest went to golden score where Varga spotted an opportunity in newaza to secure osaekomi.

The Team Event took place on Sunday with the GB team drawn against Germany in the first round. Mae Bostock (-44kg) put in a strong effort but lost to Laila Goebel before Charlie Young (-55kg) won an epic tussle against Nicolas Kunze that went over three minutes into golden score.

Chiara Serra got the better of Tatum Keen (-52kg) while Finlay Allan (-66kg) lost out to Dennis Mauer.

This left GB Judo 3 – 1 down and Dewi De Vries gave Germany an unassailable 4 – 1 lead as she beat Darcie Hancocks (-63kg).

Cameron Charlies (-81kg) got a score back for GB Judo with an impressive win over Vladimir Stark but it was Germany who finished with a win as Rafaella Igl beat Mollie Game (+63kg) to leave the final score 5 – 2.