British Judo Championships 2022: Junior and Senior – Ones to Watch
We round off the British Judo event calendar in the traditional manner this weekend as our Junior and Senior judoka battle it out at the EIS, Sheffield to be crowned National Champion for 2022.
This weekend will see 30 British Champions crowned across the Junior and Senior age groups with a number of our Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth medallists in action.
We take a look at each age group and highlight the ones to watch ahead of what promises to be an exciting weekend of domestic judo.
Junior Men
Following his gold medal in the Cadet boys -55kg category last weekend, Alfie Mitchell (Middlesborough JC) returns to take on the Junior category.
Another judoka who topped the Cadet podium was Kyras Chambers-Edutie (Tonbridge), who will compete in the -60kg category. He will face competition from defending champion Lewis Fryer (Rush JC).
With 34 entries, the -66kg category could be one of the most hotly contested. Last year’s silver medallist, James Gray (Destination Judo) returns in a bid for gold.
Luke Davies (Ealing JC) will be one of the favourites for the -73kg title following some impressive international performances this year. Arguably one of the most fiercely contested weight categories in the age group at the moment, challenges will come in the forms of Ben Moore (Bradley Stoke), Team Scotland Commonwealth Games judoka, Billy Rodman (Hibari Kan), Eryk Neumann (Hardy Spicer) and Ben Levy (Budokwai).
Following his silver medal in 2021, Luke Austen (Core JA) will be eyeing up the top of the podium in 2022. He will likely face a challenge from GB Judo representative David Sommerville (Clyde Judo) in the battle for -81kg gold.
Sam Naughton (Bacup) is another judoka who will be looking to upgrade 2021 silver to 2022 gold as he competes in the -90kg category.
In the -100kg category, Jake McKenna (Middlesborough) returns to defend his title whilst in the +100kg category, last year’s silver medallist, Ashley Doherty (Abbey/University of Ulster) will have his sights set firmly on gold.
Junior Women
In the -48kg category, Summer Shaw (Camberley JC) won bronze at the European Youth Olympic Festival earlier this year. The challenge for gold will come from defending champion Leah Hasler (Newbury JC) and 2021 silver medallist Amelia Shave (Bradley Stoke).
2022 European Cadet Championship bronze medallist Charlotte Jenman (Tonbridge JC) will be a strong favourite for the -52kg title. She will likely face a challenge from 2021 bronze medallist Maddy Birri (Ealing JC).
In the -57kg category, Isobel Kitchen (Huddersfield), defending champion Niamh Southgate (Black Dog) and Ammi Takahashi (Ealing JC) will be ones to watch. Cadet medallists Chloe Link (Relentless JC), Kenady Raine (Tees Valley) and Maddie Kissenisky (EYJA) will also offer a challenge for the medals.
Katie Mills (Camberley JC) and Olivia Delahunty (Newbury JC) will be aiming to improve upon their 2021 bronze medals in the -63kg category.
Julia Marczak (Judo Sensi London) will be hoping to add the Junior title to the Cadet National title she won last week. Challenging her for the -70kg crown will be Holly Devall (Dragons Academy) and Leah Jackson (Ryecroft JC).
Cordelia Gregory (Drake JC) has stepped down to the -78kg category after winning the +78kg title in 2021. 2021 champion Grace Tolley (Wolverhampton JC) will also be one to watch.
In the +78kg category, 2021 silver medallist Chloe Baker (SKK) will enter as favourite in the absence of Gregory. 2021 bronze medallists Angel Anegbeh (Heart of Oak) and Harriett McRae (Camberley JC) will also be ones to watch.
Senior Men
2021 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Sam Hall (Ryecroft JC), returns to defend his -60kg title. 2021 silver medallist and 2022 Team Scotland Commonwealth Games representative, Dylan Munro (Edinburgh JC) will be one to watch alongside 2021 bronze medallist Josh Giles (Coventry JC).
Charlie Young (Ryecroft) will be looking to improve upon his 2021 silver medal. He will likely face a challenge from Commonwealth Games silver medallist Finlay Allan (Camberley) and 2021 bronze medallists Alex Short (Edinburgh JC) and Michael Fryer (Rush JC).
Eric Ham (Glossop JC) will be the strong favourite for the -73kg title. 2021 silver medallist Archie Platt (JC Osaka) will offer a challenge along with a number of juniors that will be stepping up to the senior ranks.
The -81kg category is wide open with no returning medallists in action this year. Adam Adaman (Budokwai) will enter as the number one seed in the absence of Lachlan Moorhead who will compete at the World Masters later this month.
Adam Hoshal (Budokwai/Judo Factory) will enter as the top seed in the -90kg category. British Judo Junior Athlete of the Year, Ryan Rijksen Slaman (Bradley Stoke) will offer a challenge and GB Judo VI Judoka Evan Molloy (Devizes JC) will also be in action.
The -100kg category will feature two Commonwealth medallists as Team England’s Harry Lovell-Hewitt (Stroud JC) and Rhys Thompson (Enfield JC) will both be in action. GB Judo U23 Championship representative, Ollie Barratt (Dragons Academy) will also be one to watch.
In the +100kg category, we will see the golden backpatch on show as Paralympic Champion Chris Skelley (Haltemprice JC) takes to the mat. Defending champion Wesley Greenidge (Enfield JC) will be in action.
Senior Women
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Amy Platten (Redbridge JC) will enter the -48kg category as favourite as she looks to defend her 2021 title.
Chloe Robyns-Landricombe (Team Bath) also returns to defend her -52kg title. British Judo Junior Female athlete of the Year, Tatum Keen (Bradley Stoke) will be one to watch as she steps up from the Junior ranks. Hannah Wood (Sportif Judo) returns from injury that ruled her out of the Commonwealth Games and World Junior Championships.
Two-time World Championship medallist, Nekoda Davis (Ealing JC) returns to compete at a British Championships. The -57kg judoka will be challenged by Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Malin Wilson (Judo Scotland).
2021 silver medallist Jesse Edwards (Camberley JC) will be favourite for the -63kg title whilst teammate Simone Cross will be one of the ones to watch in the -70kg category.
In the -78kg category there is a welcome return to competition for Shelley Ludford (JC Osaka) whilst in the +78kg category, Lucy Williams (Anglia Ruskin JC/JC Osaka) will enter as favourite following her silver medal in 2021.
Timetables
Weigh-in times
Juniors: Friday 9th December – 19:00 – 20:00
Seniors: Saturday 10th December – 19:00 – 20:00
Coaches collect your wristband from the coaching desk in the main foyer of the EIS Sheffield.
Any enquiries before and on the weekend to events@britishjudo.org.uk
Have you checked out our Championship Hub?
Check out our ‘Key Information’ ahead of the weekend?
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