British Judoka Target Success Across Dushanbe and Mandurah Events

Three competitions across the globe will feature British judoka this weekend, with two athletes competing at the Dushanbe Grand Slam, 12 at the Mandurah Oceania Open, two at the Mandurah Junior Oceania Open, and three referees selected for the Istanbul Junior European Cup.

Dushanbe Grand Slam (1-3 May 2026)

Max Gregory (Drake JC) will compete in the -100kg category in Dushanbe, marking his first competitive appearance of the year. Having last featured in late 2025, Gregory will use this weekend as an opportunity to return to full fitness while regaining valuable time on the tatami. In 2025, he produced a series of strong results, including a silver medal at the Tallinn European Open and bronze at the Podgorica Senior European Cup, alongside fifth-place finishes at the Warsaw European Open and Dubrovnik Senior European Cup, and seventh at the Qingdao Grand Prix. He will be aiming to rediscover that form as he begins his 2026 campaign. Gregory will take on Dzhakhongir Madzhidov (TJK) in the round of 16.

Rachael Hawkes (Camberley JC) will contest the -70kg category in what will be the first Grand Slam appearance of her career. Over the past year, Hawkes has gained extensive international experience, competing across Europe, Africa, Pan America and Oceania as she targets selection for the Commonwealth Games. Her 2026 season has already started strongly, with a silver medal at the Riga Senior European Cup and a fifth-place finish at the Podgorica Senior European Cup, and this step up to Grand Slam level will provide a valuable opportunity to test herself against higher-ranked opposition. Hawkes will first face Nika Koren (SLO) in the round of 16.

Mandurah Oceania Open (2 May 2026)

Laurence Hill (Dragons Academy) will compete in the -60kg category, with his best result of 2026 so far coming at the Casablanca African Open in January where he finished seventh. He will be aiming to improve on that performance this weekend.

At -66kg, Joshua Bell (Bishops Stortford JK) will be competing in just his second international event of 2026, while Aiden Moffat (Tayside JC) enters his third of the year, having already secured a seventh-place finish at the Casablanca African Open.

Ben Moore (Bradley Stoke JC) and Oliver Short (Judo Scotland) will represent Great Britain in the -73kg category. Moore arrives in strong form following his bronze medal at the Dakar African Open in March, while Short makes his first international appearance of 2026, having last competed in late 2025 where he claimed silver at the Hong Kong Asian Open.

Kylan Aylward (Dragons Academy) will compete in the -81kg division, marking his third international event of the year as he looks to build on his performances so far and achieve his best result of 2026.

Kenneth Harris (Royal Navy Judo) will take on the -90kg category, with the 34-year-old competing in his first Oceania Open as he continues to gain valuable international experience.

Joshua Whitehouse (Judo Swansea) will contest the -100kg division, aiming to build on his fifth-place finish at the Casablanca African Open earlier this year, where he narrowly missed out on a medal.

At -48kg, Ashleigh Barnikel (Bradley Stoke JC) will look to return to the podium following her bronze medal performance at the Tunis African Open in February.

Millie Bayliss (Bradley Stoke JC) will compete in the -63kg category and comes into the event off the back of a bronze medal at the Tunis African Open, aiming to once again challenge for podium positions.

In the -70kg division, Holly Devall (Dragons Academy) has been in excellent form in 2026, claiming silver medals at both the Casablanca African Open and the Tunis African Open, while Paige Keane (Dragons Academy) will look to build on her seventh-place finish at the Casablanca Junior African Cup earlier this year.

Mandurah Junior Oceania Open (3 May 2026)

Laurence Hill (Dragons Academy) will also compete in the -60kg category at the junior event, taking the opportunity to gain valuable experience across both age groups.

Paige Keane (Dragons Academy) will likewise compete in the -70kg junior division, aiming to maximise her competitive exposure and push for success at both levels.

Istanbul Junior European Cup (2-3 May 2026)

There will be no British judoka competing in Istanbul this weekend; however, three British referees have been selected to officiate, with Stefan Newbury, Lisa Rivers and Archi Shrimpton all representing Great Britain at the event.

Good luck to everyone competing and officiating this weekend!

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