59 British Juniors and Cadets Set for Sarajevo and Rome European Cups

European Cup action is in full swing in 2026, with 59 British judoka in action this weekend (7–8 February) across two events: the Sarajevo Junior European Cup and the Rome Cadet European Cup.

In Sarajevo, 23 British juniors will step onto the tatami, with strong representation across the weight categories.

At -60kg, David Gheorghiu (Nippon JC) will be the sole British representative. The -66kg category sees a trio of competitors, with Jack Milligan (Wirral JC), Jacob Shattock (Bacup JC) and Benjamin Nunn (Bishops Stortford JK) all taking to the mat.

A particularly busy -73kg division features five British entries: Joshua Chrisp (Blyth Juno Michi), Eden Heffernan (Pro Judo), Jack MacLeod (Garioch Judo), Kayden Plinston (Camberley JC) and Kristian Hill (Rush Judo).

In the -81kg category, Lenny Tancock (Bishops Stortford JK), Vasiliy Menshykov (Garioch Judo), Isaac Hope (Bredakwai JA) and Peter Davies (Ealing JC) will all contest a competitive field.

There is an all-Scottish pairing at -100kg, with Kevin Gordon (Hibari Kan JC) and Jaden Calder (JC Esprit) flying the flag.

The women’s entries begin at -48kg, where Olivia Barfoot-Saunt (Kin Ryu JC), Eva Ewing (Edinburgh Judo), Daisy Hodgkinson (Team Bath) and Anna Kushnirenko (Abingdon JC) will represent Great Britain.

At -52kg, Harriet Jones (Pro Judo) and Amelia Alder (Osaka JC) will both be in action. Nicole Wood (Bishops Stortford JK) is the sole British competitor in the -78kg category, while Cordelia Quinlan (Wirral JC) completes the Sarajevo team as the only British judoka in the +78kg division.

In Italy, a strong contingent of 36 British cadets will compete at the Rome Cadet European Cup, marking the first Cadet European Cup of the year.

At -50kg, Samuel Niblett (Patchway JC) and Louie Seguin (Tonbridge JC) will represent Great Britain.

The -55kg category is particularly well populated, with seven British judoka entered: Samuel Knights (Mike’s JC), Ishmael Brown (Hardy Spicer 83), Harry Egleton (Bishops Stortford JK), Lewis Rhodes (Wirral JC), Elliot Marie (Budokwai), James Leroux (Rush Judo) and Reece Blackshaw (Penistone JC).

Four British athletes will contest the -60kg division, with Chayse Franklin (Micklefield JC), Bailey Tate (United Judo), Pawel Petrosyan (Sakura JC) and Michael Richardson (Blyth Juno Michi) all in action.

Harrison Wood (The Parks JC), Jenson Jones (Leicester JA) and Freddie Allen (Bradley Stoke JC) will take on the -66kg field, while Sean McAleese (Sportif), Stanley Sherlock (Core Judo) and Luka Abashidze (Bishops Stortford JK) are entered at -73kg.

Harrison Elliott (High Wycombe JC) and Keanu Bracher (Bradley Stoke JC) will compete at -81kg, with Boyan Todorov (Medway Park) and Mert Salim (Toshi Kazoku JK) entered at -90kg.

At -44kg, Alicia Lynas (Cherry JC), Katrina Davis (Sakura JC) and Tamilla Abdullaeva (Redbridge JC) will face the field. Maisie Broadley (Wirral JC) and Alexis Buchanan (Sportif) will compete at -48kg.

At -52kg, Hannah King (Bishops Stortford JK) and Taylor Chrisp (Blyth Juno Michi) will represent GB, while Maisie Shattock (Bacup JC), Elizabeth Merredew (Bishops Stortford JK) and Evie Mitchell (The Parks JC) are entered at -57kg.

Rounding out the squad, Aleksandra Dudko (Ealing JC) and Valentina Lawlor (Sportif) will compete at -63kg, with Robyn Davies (Ealing JC) taking on the -70kg division.

Good luck to everyone competing in Sarajevo and Rome this weekend!

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