Scotland and London Shine at the 2025 National Team Championships
The British Judo community gathered at Walsall Campus for a thrilling edition of the National Team Championships, with teams from across the UK battling it out across the day.
With over a dozen teams stepping onto the mat across the Minor, Pre-Cadet, Cadet, Junior, and Senior categories, the National Team Championships celebrated the very best of team judo.
The standout performance of the day went to Team Scotland, who captured a Gold medal across all male age groups with the Minor & Pre-Cadet Boys, Cadet & Junior Boys, and Senior squads all topping the podium with the Senior Women matching their male counterparts. London continued their traditional strong performance with several podium finishes in both junior and senior brackets.
The event delivered a thrilling showcase of teamwork, talent, and tenacity, with an atmosphere only experienced through team competition.
Minor & Pre-Cadet Boys – Scotland Seize Gold
In a final packed with tension and high-calibre judo, Scotland’s boys team edged past London 4–3 to secure gold. Key wins came from Thomas McCall (-60kg) and Jude Buchanan (-50kg), both scoring with clinical throws that electrified the Scottish crowd. Toby Ofakansi (+60kg) closed out the victory with a composed performance, earning the decisive point and sealing the title for the Scots.
Scotland’s path to the final included decisive victories over Wales, Northern Home Counties, and South – not dropping a single match over the course of the day. Their consistency was unmatched!
Silver – London
Bronze – Yorkshire & Humberside and Northern Home Counties
Minor & Pre-Cadet Girls – North West Top the Podium
The North West gained revenge over the Midlands in a rematch from an earlier pool contest in the Final of the Minor and Pre-Cadet Girls competition.
The Midlands came out 3-2 victors in the morning, but the North West would regroup to win the Final 3-2 with Ruby Finney and Summer Lyons-Ashworth showing incredible resilience in helping them come from 2-1 behind to take the crown.
Silver – Midlands
Bronze – Northern Home Counties and Scotland
Cadet & Junior Boys – Scotland Continue Fine Form
Scotland swept aside the Northern Home Counties 5-2 in the final of the Cadet & Junior Boys. Four consecutive wins to open the final from Harris McGrorty, James Rutherford, Rhys Clydesdale, and Vasiliy Menshykov secured the Gold for Team Scotland as Northern Home Counties struggled to deal with their power.
Scotland defeated Yorkshire and Humberside by the same scoreline in the semi finals, as they progressed through the day undefeated after a dominant pool stage performance.
London settled from Bronze following a thrilling 4-3 defeat to Northern Home Counties with Georg Riley getting the all important victory in the last contest. It was a topsy turvy match with the momentum swinging both ways at different points.
Silver – Northern Home Counties
Bronze – London and Yorkshire & Humberside
Cadet & Junior Girls – London Claim First Gold
London claimed their first gold medal of the day in the Cadet & Junior Girls competition going one step further than last year’s silver medal win.
A dominant 4-1 win over Scotland in the final handed them the deserved victory after a thrilling 3-2 win over the Midlands in the semi finals. Having dropped the first two contests of the semi finals, Maya Aubert Gomez, Aleksandra Dudko and Deborah O’Neal turned it around, much to the delight of their Coach and watching players.
Lexi Buchanan claimed Scotland’s only victory in the Final but London were not to be defeated as they regrouped to pull away.
Silver – Scotland
Bronze – Northern Home Counties and Midlands
Senior Men – London Continue Stronghold
London continued their recent dominance in the Senior Mens competition as they once again took home the title. They went into this one as the reigning Silver medallists and were determined to reclaim their 2023 crown.
They swept aside the Midlands, Scotland and Northern Home Counties in the pool stage, with them drawing the Midlands in the semi finals once again. In a repeat of last year’s Final, the South couldn’t slow the momentum of the London Area with 4-1 victory recorded thanks to victories from Jessy Briard, Peter Davies, Corey O’Neal-Francis and Adam Adaman.
It was a blockbuster final as they edged past Team Scotland 3-2 thanks to three opening victories from Briard, Nisihizono, and O’Neal-Francis to give them the win.
Silver – Scotland
Bronze – North West and South
Senior Women – Scotland Dethrone NHC
Scotland prevented Northern Home Counties from claiming three straight titles in the Senior Women competition following a comprehensive 5-0 victory in the final.
It was a highly anticipated final with both sides progressing through the pool stages undefeated. NHC humbled the London Area 5-0 in the semi final, while Scotland edged past the Western Area 3-2 with Nicole Wood claiming the decisive victory.
Victories from Harriet Jones, Sarah Smith, Sophie Wood, Sunny Doig and Emily Ritchie saw Scotland claim the whitewash in the final and top off a fine day in Walsall for Team Scotland.
Silver – Northern Home Counties
Bronze – London and Western
Click here to view the full results
Watch 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 Scotland and London Shine at the 2025 National Team Championships appeared first on British Judo Association.