Ahead of this weekend’s British Championships at the EIS Sheffield, we have a look at some of the ones to watch as the best in young British Judo talent compete to be crowned British Judo Pre-Cadet and Cadet Champion.

Pre-Cadet Boys

Alex McKee (Kin Ryu) recently won gold at the Welsh Open and will be one to watch in the -34kg category. Competition could come in the form of Scottish National Closed Championship winner Luke Hunter (Judel Judo 93).
Following their victories at the recent Welsh Open, Bailey Walters (Kingsley JC) and Stanley Pusey (Micklefield JC) will be ones to watch in the -38kg and -42kg categories respectively.

James Rutherford (Destination Judo) finished outside of the medals last year placing 5th. He won gold in the -50kg category at both the Welsh Open and the Scottish National Championships this year. Can he add the National title to his collection?

Palavani JC had two Pre-Cadet champions at last year’s British Championships. Their best hope this year lies with Luka Abashidze in the -55kg category following his victory at the Welsh Open. Adashidze finished 2nd last year in the -46kg category.

Pre-Cadet Girls

Lexi Buchanan (Sportif) will be looking to improve on her bronze medal last year. She won gold at both the Welsh Open and Scottish National Championships in the -40kg category. She will be looking to add the national title to her medal haul. Sportif may have further success with Rachel Mclean who won the Welsh Open in the -57kg category. Mclean will compete in the -63kg category this weekend, the category in which she won gold at the Scottish National Championships.
Mclean will face a challenge from Welsh Open champion Imogen Husband (Chester JC).

Taylor Chrisp (Blyth Juno Michi) and Maisie Shattock (Bacup JC) were also Welsh Open Champions and ones to watch in the -44kg and -52kg categories respectively.

Cadet Boys

Jesse Chraniuk (High Wycombe Judo Centre) will enter as the favourite for the -55kg title following his recent bronze medal at the Gyor European Cup. He will face competition from Alfie Mitchell (Middlesborough JC) who won gold in the -50kg category last year.
Scottish Champion and British Judo European Cadet Championship representative Ross McWatt (Garioch JC) will be in action in the -60kg category. He will be challenged by Kyras Chambers-Edutie (Tonbridge JC) who won gold in the -55kg category last year and defeated McWatt to the Welsh Open title earlier this year.
Other athletes who were a part of the GB Judo European Cadet team that competed in Porec are Laurence Hill (Dragons Judo Academy) and Irakli Goginashvili (Palvani JC) who will be in action in the -50kg and -66kg categories respectively.
Alexander Stojanowski (Judo Sensei London) returns to defend his -81kg title, whilst in the -90kg category, Noah Black (Clyde JC) will be looking to add the national title to the Scottish title he won earlier this year after finishing 3rd last year.

Cadet Girls

Defending -70kg champion, Julia Marczak (Judo Sensi London) enters in golden form having won gold at both the Welsh Open and the Gyor European Cup recently. The -70kg judoka recently represented GB Judo at the European Cadet Championships alongside -57kg judoka, Chloe Link (Relentless/Faversham).
Link won gold at the Welsh Open before picking up a silver medal at the Gyor European Cup. A challenge for gold will come in the form of defending champion Kenady Raine (Tees Valley JC).
Recent Welsh Open champion, Lola Hodson (Dragons Judo Academy) claimed silver at the 2021 Cadet National Championships in the -52kg category and will be looking to claim the top prize this weekend.
Gracie Wilson (Huddersfield JC) will be hoping to improve upon her silver medal in 2021 as she competes in the +70kg category.

Weigh-in Times

Cadet Boys – Saturday 3rd December: 07:30hrs – 08:30hrs EIS, Sheffield Badminton Hall
Pre Cadet Girls – Saturday 3rd December: 12:00hrs – 13:00hrs EIS, Sheffield Badminton Hall
Cadet Girls – Sunday 4th December: 07:30hrs – 08:30hrs EIS, Sheffield Badminton Hall
Pre Cadet Boys – Sunday 4th December: 10:00hrs – 11:00hrs EIS, Sheffield Badminton Hall
Competition starts: 09:30hrs on both days.

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