British Judoka Set for Action Across Europe and Africa in Packed Weekend of Competition

There is another busy weekend of judo competition ahead, with British athletes competing at the Ljubljana European Open, Samorin Cadet European Cup, Tunis African Open, Tunis Junior African Cup and the VI German Open.

Ljubljana European Open

A senior squad of 19 fighters are set to compete at the Ljubljana European Open – just the second European Open of the year and an important early opportunity to secure valuable ranking points.

Charlie Ayre (Tees Valley JC) will take on the -60kg category, while Neil MacDonald (Judo Scotland) contests the -66kg field.

A busy -73kg division will see Harry Le Mare (Camberley JC), Tommy Jackson (East Yorkshire JA), Cameron Charles (Camberley JC), and Finlay Allan (Camberley JC) flying the flag for Great Britain.

In the -81kg category, Corey O’Neal Narcis (Ealing JC), Eryk Neumann (Hardy Spicer 83), and Rory Tyrrell (Camberley JC) will take on the competition.

Jared Sey (Budokwai) will compete at -90kg, while Daniel Ede (Westcroft JC) represents the nation in the -100kg division.

Summer Shaw (Camberley JC) will line up in the -48kg division, while Caitlin Barber (Middlesbrough JC) makes her first appearance of 2026 as she contests the -52kg category.

In the -57kg division, Tomi Imrie (Jidel Judo 93), Madeleine Birri (Ealing JC), and Ammi Takahashi (Ealing JC) will all take to the mat in a competitive field.

Rachael Hawkes (Camberley JC) continues her busy run of competition as she targets further ranking points in the -70kg category.

At -78kg, Shelley Ludford (Osaka JC) returns to international action for the first time since November’s Zagreb Grand Prix.

Rounding out the women’s squad, Sarah Adlington (Edinburgh Judo) competes in the +78kg division as she continues her pursuit of Commonwealth Games qualification, aiming to become the first Scottish woman to win three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.

Samorin Cadet European Cup

At the Samorin Cadet European Cup, eight young judoka will represent Great Britain as they gain valuable international experience on the European stage.

Finlay Whitelaw (Pro Judo) will compete in the -50kg category, while Louie Seguin (Tonbridge JC) lines up alongside him in the same division.

Luke Hunter (Jidel Judo 93) contests the -55kg category.

Betsy Doe (Pro Judo) will compete at -48kg, Lucy Daly (Highland Budokan) lines up at -52kg, and Stella Cameron (Whitburn JC) takes on the -57kg division.

Zoe Galbraith (Garioch Judo) will compete at -70kg, while Lois Goldie (Pro Judo) completes the squad in the +70kg category.

VI German Open

A British visually impaired team heads to Heidelberg for the VI German Open, hoping to replicate last year’s success at this same event, which saw Great Britain claim 13 medals.

The age-group events will see Jake Pasquill (Bacup Judo Club) compete in the J2 U18 -60kg category, alongside Jolene Donaghue (Ray Stevens Judo Academy) in the J1 U18 -52kg division.

At J2 U21 level, Hadley Beard (Hackney Judo Club) lines up in the -70kg category, while Rico Amediku (Micklefield Judo Club) competes at -60kg.

In the senior J1 categories, Evie Gormley (Stewart Academy) lines up at -60kg as she builds on her recent success in Brazil. Current World and European Champion Dan Powell (Ryecroft Judo Club) headlines the -95kg division, while Dan English (Tees Valley Judo Club) competes at +95kg.

The J2 senior squad features strong depth across the weights. Emily Betts (Clacton Judo Club) will contest -60kg, while Miles Solomon (Oxford Judo Club) and Jimmy Alderson (Priory Judo Club) compete in the -70kg category. Evan Molloy (Devizes Judo Club) and Liam Mooney (Leigh Judo) take to the mat at -81kg, Kirsten Taylor (Tayside Judo Club) competes at +70kg, and Jack Hodgson (Middlesbrough JC) completes the line-up at +95kg.

The event provides an important early-season test for the squad, blending established championship pedigree with exciting emerging talent as the VI programme opens its 2026 international campaign.

Tunis African Open & Junior African Cup

Great Britain will have athletes competing at both the Tunis African Open and the Tunis Junior African Cup this weekend.

Laurence Hill (Dragons Academy) will compete at -60kg in both the Junior African Cup and the African Open. He will be joined in the African Open by Ross Dempsey (Clyde JC) and Nordine Adrif (Garioch Judo) in the same weight category.

At -66kg, Peter Miles (Bradley Stoke JC), Aiden Moffat (Tayside JC), Gregg Varey (Team Bath), and Joshua Bell (Bishops Stortford JK) will represent Great Britain. Adam Stevens (Goole JC) and Ben Moore (Bradley Stoke JC) are set to contest the -73kg division.

Kylan Aylward (Dragons Academy), Harrison Evans, and Benjamin Fox Kennedy (Sportif) will line up in the -81kg category.

In the -90kg division, Asher Price (Pinewood JC), Joseph Kirk (Middlesbrough JC), and Cameron Reid-Thomas (Sportif) will take to the tatami, while Joshua Whitehouse (Judo Swansea) competes at -100kg.

On the women’s side, Ashleigh Barnikel (Bradley Stoke JC) will compete at -48kg, while Lola Hodson (Dragons Academy) enters the -52kg category.

Millie Bayliss (Bradley Stoke JC) will fight at -63kg, while Holly Devall (Dragons Academy) and Paige Keane (Dragons Academy) compete in the -70kg division, with Keane also featuring in the Junior African Cup event.

Good luck to everyone competing this weekend!

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