Judoka from all four home nations will be in action over the next week at the 2016 Commonwealth Judo Championships in Port Elizabeth, South Africa from Sunday 24 to Thursday 28 April.

A ten strong English team has been entered with a number of young up and coming judoka in action with some having picked up medals on the international stage already this year. Acelya Toprak (-57kg) goes to South Africa in great form off the back of bronze medals at the Coimbra and St Petersburg Junior European Cups while both Rhys Thompson (-100kg) and Wesley Greenidge (+100kg) also medalled at Coimbra in March.

Juniors

Olivia Piechota (-48kg), Acelya Toprak (-57kg), Charlotte Newbold (+78kg), Ottavio Razzino (-55kg), Aiden Donald (-81kg), Rhys Thompson (-100kg), Wesley Greenidge (+100kg)

Seniors

Julia Scardone (-52kg), Sally Moon (-78kg), Alex Paske (-73kg)

Northern Ireland are also sending a ten strong team with judoka ranging from Cadet to Seniors including 2015 British Cadet medallist Matthew Elliott (-66kg) and 2015 British Junior medallist Jodie Jordan (-48kg). The team met Northern Ireland’s 2010 Commonwealth Games boxing gold medallist Paddy Gallagher before flying out so will be sure to take his experience and advice to heart

Cadets

Kirstie Strouts-McCallion (+70kg), Jamie McFadden (-55kg), Joshua Green (-60kg), Matthew Elliott (-66kg)

Juniors

Jodie Jordan (-48kg), Victoria Colhoun (-57kg), Daniel Mayhew (-81kg)

Seniors

Kirsty Kee (-57kg), Ross Scott (-100kg), Gavin McNeill (+100kg)

Eight young Scottish judoka will also be competing over the next week with an emphasis on the next generation in the selection with no Senior selections for the competition. British cadet medallists Aimee Thorpe (-44kg) and Olivia Reid (-48kg) are among those to have been selected as has -52kg Scottish Junior champion Rae Anderson.

Pre-Cadets

Lyle Donald (-55kg)

Cadets

Aimee Thorpe (-44kg), Olivia Reid (-48kg), Dominic McNealis (-50kg), David Scobbie (-55kg), Ryan Turnbull (-73kg)

Juniors

Rae Anderson (-52kg), Abigail Mcbeath (-63kg)

In contrast it’s an experienced Welsh team that is flying out to South Africa this week with a number of the players having gained experienced on the international stage. Jade Lewis (-52kg) and Connor Ireland (-73kg) both competed for Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and also medalled at the 2012 Commonwealth Championships in Cardiff with Lewis taking gold.

Cadets

Jasmine Hacker-Jones (-52kg), Chloe Jones (-57kg), Holly Jones (-63kg), Scott Pearce (-60kg), Luke Thomas (-90kg)

Juniors

Stephanie Walker (-52kg), Joshua O’Connor (-66kg)

Seniors

Jade Lewis (-52kg), Connor Ireland (-73kg)

Good luck to all the athletes competing in South Africa over the next week. For further info please visit: http://www.judosa.co.za/