British Championships 2024: Ones to watch – Junior and Senior

Ahead of this weekend’s Junior and Senior British Championships at the University of Warwick, we have a look at some of the ones to watch as the best British Judo talent competing to be crowned British Judo Champions.

Junior Male

Charlie Ayre (Tees Valley Judo), competing in the -60kg category, has recently joined British Judo’s World Class Performance Programme and will aim to defend his title from last year. Ayre will also compete in the senior -60kg competition, where he hopes to improve on his 3rd-place finish from last year. His journey won’t be without challenges, as last year’s -55kg runner-up, Joseph Buchanan (Sportif Judo), has stepped up to the -60kg division and could prove to be a strong contender.

Archie Strang (Danderhall JC), the Cadet British Champion, will take on the Junior -66kg category after being one of the standout performers at last week’s event; Strang will be looking to replicate that success this weekend.

The -73kg category promises fierce competition. With last year’s champion, Eryk Neumann, moving up to the -81kg division, the path is open for 2023 runner-up and new WCPP player Benjamin Levy (Budokwai) to claim the title. However, Levy faces stiff competition from Luka Gigilashvili (Palavani), last week’s Cadet Champion, and Irakli Goginashvili (Palavani), who was named British Judo’s Junior Male Athlete of the Year. Goginashvili has had an exceptional season, securing podium finishes in the Kaunas, Birmingham, Paks, and Skopje Junior European Cups. This division will certainly be one to watch.

In the -81kg category, Eryk Neumann (Hardy Spicer 83), last year’s -73kg British Champion and a recent recruit to the World Class Performance Programme, is expected to make waves. Since stepping up to this weight class, Neumann has already claimed bronze at the Kaunas Junior European Cup and will aim to secure another British Champion title this weekend.

The -100kg category sees defending champion Jay Parkin (Micklefield JC) aiming to retain his title. However, he could face stiff competition from Kevin Gordon (Hibari Kan JC), British Judo’s Cadet Male Athlete of the Year.

Junior Female

Chloe Link (Relentless Judo) returns to the -57kg category as a 2-time defending champion, aiming to secure her third consecutive title. Chloe has also enjoyed international success this year, earning bronze medals at the Skopje and Kaunas Junior European Cups. Now a member of British Judo’s World Class Performance Programme, Link will need to fend off strong competition, particularly from last year’s 3rd-place finisher, Maddy Birri (Ealing JC), who recently claimed silver at the Montreal Junior Pan-American Cup and bronze at the Montreal Pan-American Open.

Amelia Alder (Osaka JC) steps into the -52kg category after a strong showing last year, where she placed 2nd in the senior -48kg and 3rd in the junior -48kg divisions. She’ll face challenges from Lola Hodson (Dragons Academy), another recent addition to the World Class Performance Programme and Lucy Robinson (Kin Ryu JC), the -52kg Cadet British Champion.

In the -48kg category, Eva Ewing (Whitburn JC), British Judo’s Cadet Female Athlete of the Year, emerges as a strong contender. With her previous competitors, Summer Shaw and Amelia Alder, moving up to different categories, Ewing has an excellent opportunity to improve on her 3rd-place finish from last year. However, she’ll face a tough field, including Cadet British Champion Taylor Chrisp (Blyth Juno Michi) and Cadet runner-up Lexi Buchanan (Sportif Judo).

Senior Male

2023 Champion Neil MacDonald returns to defend his title in the -66kg category. Although he has had a quiet year of competition, he remains a strong contender. British Judo’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year and a member of the British Judo World Class Performance Programme (WCPP), Michael Fryer (Rush Judo), will also compete in this division. With a silver medal at the Zagreb Grand Prix and bronze medals at the Tallinn European Open and Riga Senior European Cup already on his 2024 resume, he could pose a significant threat.

Ethan Nairne (Bradley Stoke) enters as the favourite in the -73kg category after finishing as last year’s runner-up, with previous champion Eric Ham out due to injury. 2023 bronze medallists Oliver Short and Alexander Short are also returning to the competition and will be looking to challenge Nairne for the top spot. Benjamin Levy will compete in this division as well and could factor into the podium race.

In the -81kg category, last year’s bronze medallist Rory Tyrrell (Camberley JC) enters 2024 with strong potential but will face stiff competition from Eryk Neumann, who has stepped up into this weight class and is expected to make an impact.

Oliver Barrett (Dragons Academy), last year’s -100kg runner-up, enters this year looking to claim gold at the British Championships. However, he faces significant competition from WCPP teammates Max Gregory (Drake Judo Club) and Rhys Thompson (Drake Judo Club), making this division one of the most unpredictable and exciting to watch.

Last year’s +100kg champion Andrew McWatt (Garioch Judo) will aim to retain his title but is expected to face fierce competition from Wesley Greenidge (Enfield JC), last year’s silver medallist. Greenidge has shown strong form recently, including a bronze medal at the Rome European Open.

Senior Female

Summer Shaw (Camberley) has been the most exciting athlete to watch in the -48kg category, having completed the double-double by winning both the junior and senior titles for the past two years in a row. While Shaw has now moved out of the junior category and cannot achieve a three-peat in that division, she remains a strong favourite to dominate the senior competition once again.

In the -57kg category, Olympian Lele Nairne (Bradley Stoke) looks to defend her title in what will be her first competition since the Paris Olympics. 2023 runner-up Laura Allen (Camberley) returns, likely aiming to surpass Nairne this time around.

The -63kg category will see Lucy Renshall (SKK Judo) make her first appearance since the Paris Olympics in July. Renshall’s achievements this year include a bronze medal at the Paris Grand Slam and a gold medal at the Portugal Grand Prix. However, defending champion Katie Mills (Camberley) will be aiming to retain her title and could provide stiff competition.

Emma Reid (Redbridge JC), competing in the -78kg category, will return this weekend to defend her title as the 2023 British Champion. This marks Reid’s first appearance since the Paris Olympics in July. Alongside her Olympic showing, Reid has had an exceptional year, claiming bronze medals at the Abu Dhabi World Championships, Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam, and Dushanbe Grand Slam.

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