European Kata Gold for Everest and Robus Highlights Weekend for British Judo

It was a mixed weekend for British Judo athletes competing across three European events, with some encouraging performances and important international experience gained.

At the 2025 European Kata Championships in Riga, Isabelle Everest and Braydon Robus were crowned European champions in the Adapted Nage No Kata for the second year in a row. The 18 and 17-year-old judokas delivered a composed and technically strong performance to defend their title, showcasing not just their kata skills but also the strength of their partnership on the mat.

Their precision and harmony stood out, but what left a lasting impression on the crowd was something deeper — the trust, the journey, and the resilience between the pair.

Speaking to the European Judo Union after the event, Everest said: “Two-time European champions, that’s just absolutely amazing and I am excited to see where we go from here,” said Everest.

The duo, who train at Westerleigh Judokwai in Bexhill, have worked hard to refine their techniques and performance, and the hard work is clearly paying off!

Also in action at the European Kata Championships, Lewis Hannington and Jim Crompton competed in the Katame No Kata. In a strong and experienced field, they placed 8th overall, continuing their development at a high level of international kata competition and once again representing Army Judo.

At the Sarajevo Senior European Cup, Neil MacDonald (Glasgow Judo Club) competed in the -66kg category. After a strong start that saw him reach the quarter-finals, he narrowly missed out on progression after a Golden Score defeat. MacDonald bounced back with a win in his first repechage contest but saw his competition come to an end with a loss in the second, finishing 7th overall.

Meanwhile, at the Graz Junior European Cup, Ben Levy (Budokwai) competed in the -73kg category and followed a path remarkably similar to MacDonald’s in Sarajevo. After progressing to the quarter-finals, Levy was edged out in a gruelling Golden Score battle lasting nearly nine minutes. He then moved into the repechage, where he won his first contest before being defeated in the second, also finishing 7th overall.

Watch out for further news from British Judo by checking out our latest news section. You can also catch up via our official social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The post European Kata Gold for Everest and Robus Highlights Weekend for British Judo appeared first on British Judo Association.