After the euphoria of Peter Miles’ silver win at the European Youth Olympic Festival yesterday, Team GB’s first medal of the games, it was a full house in anticipation of more medals at the Jaarbeurs Utrecht Stadium in the Netherlands, today.

However, the latest competition held mixed fortunes for Team GB’s Judoka.

Scotland’s Abbi Blackie (-52kg) was the highest ranking of the four judoka in action, placing seventh after a repechage match against German Laura Ackermann.

Blackie scored a stunning ippon in the second round against Moldova’s Eugenia Ciobanu. She then met Romanian Teodora Balasoiu in the quarter final where she was beaten by two waza-ari’s, leading to the repechage against European bronze medallist Ackermann.

“Obviously I wanted to medal but I did not come here expecting to do that,” she said.
“I went out in the first round at the Europeans earlier this month so this is a big improvement on that and I am pleased.

“My judo technique and my all-around play felt much better, but she was very strong.I had a moment when I almost caught her so I take positives from this performance, my technique was great and I won my second round very quickly with a throw I have not used in a long time.

“I need to get a bit stronger and I will come back for the juniors next year much better, this is a good season for me with a bronze in a cup and seventh here.”

Following four early victories in the preliminary rounds, it looked promising for the other judoka, but then, one by one they all exited in the second round.

Jodie Caller who won by waza-ari in the first round, narrowly missed out on reaching the third stage when the two time Senior Champion for Slovenia Anja Stangar scored a yuko.

Both Neil MacDonald and Stuart McWatt, fighting in -60kg and -66kg respectively, also won their preliminaries – McDonald against Finnish judoka Stefan Ronkko and McWatt against Lithuanian Lorenzas Azukas. But in the second bout McDonald suffered the same fate as Caller when he lost by a single yuko to Portuguese opponent David Reis.

“The boy was a left-hander whereas I’m right handed,” said Stuart MacDonald.
“It was a really close fight that went to golden score, and a minute in he caught me for the crucial score.

“It’s really disappointing to have lost, but I know it was a close one.

“When I lose I go back to my club and work on everything, my coach and I will be training hard to try and improve against left-handers and then when I face that guy again I will know what I need to do.”

Meanwhile, in the second round McWatt was thrown for ippon by Russian Ishmail Chasygov, No 2 in Europe, who then went on to dominate the pool and win gold in the -66kg category.

“I have beaten the guy before, but of course it is a disappointment to lose to him this time.”
Stuart McWatt said.

“I started getting into the fight and I was up a penalty at the start and winning the fight.
“But I got caught by him, he is the No.2 in Europe so he was always going to be tough.
“You have to try and learn from experience. I was unlucky, ideally I would have liked to finished fifth to make the Worlds, but it feels good to represent Team GB.”

England’s Performance Manager Matt Divall added: “The team are staying positive and ready to attack tomorrow. Enrico (-73kg), Jamal (-81kg), Lulu (-63kg), Sarah (-70kg) have all prepared well and are eager to get going.”

Tomorrow’s line up is as follows:

Enrico (bye), Lubjana Piovesana (bye), Jamal Petgrave is against the Croatian no.4 seed Dominik Druzeta in what will be a tough match, and Sarah Hill faces Belarusian Yana Reneiskaya, but in the quarters she could the top seed Croatian Brigita Matic.

Words by Donna Richardson.