Four British Judo Squads Ready for Action in Montenegro, Portugal, Turkey and Belgium

It’s a busy weekend in European judo, with four British squads heading to competitions in Montenegro, Portugal, Turkey and Belgium. Athletes will represent Great Britain at the Podgorica Senior European Cup, Portimão Junior European Cup, Antalya Cadet European Cup, and the Louvain‑la‑Neuve Kata World Series.

Podgorica Senior European Cup

The largest British squad of the weekend will compete in Montenegro, with 13 judoka representing Great Britain at the Podgorica Senior European Cup.

In the -60kg category, a trio of athletes will take to the tatami. Nordine Adrif (Garich Judo) arrives following a seventh-place finish at the Tunis African Open. Ross Dempsey (Clyde JC) will also compete, with his best senior European Cup result being fifth place in the Dubrovnik European Cup in 2025. Joining them is Laurence Hill (Dragons Academy), whose best performance this year came with seventh place at the Casablanca African Open.

Neil MacDonald (Judo Scotland) will compete in the -66kg division. With bronze already secured this year at the Casablanca African Open, MacDonald will be aiming to produce his best European result of 2026.

In the -73kg category, Finlay Allan (Camberley JC) will look to continue the strong form he showed in Europe in 2025, where he claimed silver at the Riga Senior European Cup and bronze at the Dubrovnik Senior European Cup. Harry Le Mare (Camberley JC) will be aiming for his first top-seven result at this level, while Conall McGivern (The Judo Academy) makes his debut at Senior European Cup level.

In the -90kg division, Scott Cusack (Edinburgh Judo) begins his 2026 season looking to build on his fifth-place finish at the Malaga Senior European Cup in October 2025. Cameron Hickey (Camberley JC) will make his second career Senior European Cup appearance, and his first of the year, while Cameron Reid-Thomas (Sportif) also enters the field as he looks to secure his first seventh-place finish at this level.

Adam Hall (Team Bath) is Great Britain’s sole entry in the +100kg category. He returns to European competition for the first time since competing at the Glasgow European Open in 2018. At 37 years old, Hall will be one of the most experienced judoka in the field and will look to use that experience in his return to the international stage.

In the women’s competition, Olivia Delahunty (Newbury JC) will represent Great Britain in the -63kg division. The event marks both her first competition of the year and her first Senior European Cup appearance. In 2025 she secured three seventh-place finishes at the Sarajevo Junior European Cup, Poznan Junior European Cup, and Kaunas Junior European Cup, gaining valuable international experience.

Rachael Hawkes (Camberley JC) continues a busy international schedule in the -70kg category. She will be aiming to build on the strong form that saw her win gold at the Abidjan African Open and the Port Louis African Open, as well as bronze medals at the Lima Panamerican Open, Gold Coast Oceania Open, and the Montreal Panamerican Openin 2025. Hawkes will be targeting further ranking points as she works towards qualification for the Commonwealth Games.

Portimão Junior European Cup

Gheorghe Tataru (Palavani) will be Great Britain’s sole competitor in Portugal, entering the -90kg division. A difficult draw at the Móstoles Junior European Cup last weekend saw Tataru face a top opponent in his opening contest, which led to him exiting the competition. However, he demonstrated excellent form towards the end of 2025, claiming silver at the Riga Cadet European Cup and bronze at the Thessaloniki Cadet European Cup, and he will be looking to challenge the top of the field again this weekend.

Stephen Sims will also represent Great Britain at the event as a referee, the only British referee officiating at a European Cup this weekend.

Antalya Cadet European Cup

A small squad of four women will compete in Turkey at the Antalya Cadet European Cup.

Katrina Davis (Sakura JC) will enter the -44kg category at her third Cadet European Cup of 2026. She arrives in strong form after finishing seventh at the Rome Cadet European Cup and fifth at the Poreč Cadet European Cup.

Aleksandra Dudko (Ealing JC) will compete in the -63kg division. Recent performances include fifth place at the Casablanca Cadet African Cup and seventh place at last week’s Poreč Cadet European Cup, showing she is closing in on podium finishes at this level.

Robyn Davies (Ealing JC) enters the -70kg category in her second event of the year, having previously competed at the competitive Rome Cadet European Cup, where she secured valuable mat time and a strong opening-round win.

Deborah O’Neal (Ealing JC) will contest the +70kg division in her first European Cup appearance of the year. She narrowly missed out on a podium finish last time out, placing fifth at the Thessaloniki Cadet European Cup, and will aim to go one step further this weekend.

Louvain-la-Neuve Kata World Series

Great Britain will also be represented in Belgium at the Louvain-la-Neuve Kata World Series.

Lewis Hannington (The Judo Company) and Jim Crompton will compete in Katame-no-kata, continuing their active international schedule as one of Great Britain’s most experienced kata partnerships.

Good luck to everyone representing Great Britain this weekend!

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