The British Judo Association (BJA) would like to congratulate all of the self-funding teams representing England, regions and clubs around the country who took part in the Venray judo competition in the Netherlands between 8 to 9 June.

In what is the biggest competition outside the European Opens, open to clubs, teams and the England Squad members as a self funding competition, overall the various teams representing England won 36 medals coming fifth overall in the medal table. These included five gold medals eight silvers and 23 bronzes, while Scotland won a gold medal, two silvers and three bronzes.

England’s Lois Brown gained gold in the -57kg Junior competition for girls and Junior Christopher Skelley representing BJA Yorkshire and Humberside in York (-100kg) won gold for the boys. At England cadet level Ashton Whalley (-42kg) won gold.

Meanwhile Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz representing Enfield Judo club won gold, At senior level for the women, Kirsty Guest won another gold for the British Judo Association Yorkshire and Humberside region and completed the five gold-medal haul for England, clubs and counties.

Meanwhile, Judo Scotland’s Cadet Michelle Boyle from Edinburgh won gold for her country.

One of the youngest members of the England delegation representing the under 10s at club level, Paige Bartlett (+40kg) of Ealing Judo Club, London set the silver standard for her elders to follow, while fellow clubmate and U12 contestant Ammi Takahashi (-36kg) won bronze.

Juniors Helen Forbes (-52kg) and Chrissie Webb (+63kg) and precadet Archie Platt (-38kg) all achieved a solid silver England.

Representing the BJA regions Charles Grocock from BJA Yorkshire and Humberside in York took silver in the -90kg category and his team-mate -100kg Christopher Skelley (BJA Yorkshire) won silver. Junior Sophie Roots representing Croydon, London won silver (-70kg)

Scotland’s two silvers were gained by Judo Scotland’s Juniors Olivia Reid and Helen Forbes.

Success must surely run in the family for Claire Harrison and her son Jake McKenna who both won bronze medals for Middlesborough Southlands Judo Club.

Claire fought for the senior women in the +78kg category while her son competed in the -38kg contest for U10s.

Other Southlands successes included +50 kg fighter Joseph McNeill and Josh Illingworth from Middlesborough Southlands Club who also gained bronze.

Pre-cadet Rayna Jobson (-63kg) took bronze for Wrenwa England Club in Kent while Samuel Perry(-42kg) from 2 A’s Judokwai in Sutton Coldfield and Thomas Kirk (-34kg) of Camberley Judo Club joined in her bronze success.

England’s Pre-cadets Amy Platten (-36kg, Kiera Bateman (-44kg) and Chloe Nunn (-57kg) all took bronze for the girls while Max Goodkind (-34kg) and Henry Wakes (-42kg) took bronze for England boys.

Meanwhile, England cadets Amy Oram (-44kg)and Chloe Alvis (-48kg) both gained bronze, joined by junior Lucy Day (-57kg) and Gemma Wright (-57kg).

Juniors Keiran Davin from Moberly, London (-55kg)and Rys Thompson (-81kg) from Enfield Judo Club andIsaac Gagin from BJA London took bronze in the -55kg category.

Marc Powell (-78kg) was the only senior male to medal and gained bronze.

Scottish Bronzes came from Cassie Harris (-52kg) of Just Judo Scotland and Scotland Squad member Valentino Volante for the men’s cadets.

Commenting on the results, Stefan Newbury, the BJA’s Competition Development Officer who attended the tournament, said: “Venray is an excellent international development tournament so being invited to referee as part of the BJA referee development programme and having the experience of refereeing internationally is invaluable. The judo was of a relatively high standard, so like the players, we also have to raise our game to justify working at this level. Refereeing with different colleagues from all over Europe is also a good experience, it helps us to build the communication skills needed for working as Continental or International referees at EJU or IJF events.”

Words by Donna Richardson.