There were some notable scalps claimed by British judoka at the Rome European Open on Saturday 13 February.

Lucy Renshall (-63kg) beat world number nine and home favourite Edwige Gwend (ITA) by yuko in golden score while Bekky Livesey (-57kg) defeated Colombia’s Pan-American Championship medallist Yadinys Amaris, also by yuko, in her opening contest on her way to her first ever top eight finish at a senior continental open.

Livesey would lose her next contest to Amelie Stoll (GER) on ippon after being held down however she recovered well in the repechage to defeat Italian Valentina Giorgis on shidos. This set-up a bronze medal match-up with the other Stoll sister Theresa who won the fight by ippon in the final minute.

Renshall showed her class early on as she defeated Clementine Louchez by ippon in the first round. This set-up a tough second contest with Gwend and in a hard-fought encounter it was the British judoka who came out on top as she threw her more experienced opponent for yuko in golden score.

The 2015 Junior European champion then lost a close contest with Russia’s Daria Davydova by yuko before being caught and thrown for ippon by Maricet Espinosa (CUB) in the repechage contest.

Kim Renicks (-48kg), Gemma Howell (-63kg), Lubjana Piovesana (-63kg) and Jemima Yeats-Brown (-70kg) all lost out in their opening contests in Rome.

Gregg Varey (-66kg), Patrick Dawson (-73kg) and Gary Hall (-90kg) were competing in the Oberwart European Open across the same weekend and all were unable to get past their first opponents.