A nineteen-strong British team has been selected to compete in the Moscow Grand Slam, Russia from 3rd-4th July 2010.

The tournament in the Russian capital is one of only four Grand Slams on the International Judo Federation’s calendar, joining Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, and will see fighters from across the World competing for valuable Olympic qualification points.

GB made a tentative start to the season with two 5th places at the Paris Grand Slam. At the time, Performance Director Margaret Hicks said, “Our players are just at the start of the transitional period and we recognise we still have a lot more work to do with the players to make the necessary improvements for medals at this level.”

After picking up two medals at the European Championships in April, GB looks to be in a much better position going into their second Grand Slam of the year, but Hicks says the key focus is the World Championships later this year.

“We are still in the process of confirming which players are likely to be in the frame for selection and a place in the 2010 World Championship team. With the IJF now permitting two players per weight at the Worlds, this presents an excellent chance for us to assess players over the next three weeks. In some weight categories the situation is now very interesting.”

Most of the squad are already out in Russia for the start of the intensive three-week training period, which will see some of them compete in the Orenburg European Cup this weekend.

“We are still trying to identify and confirm our core players ahead of the Olympic phase, which will start early next year. As we know, the nature of our sport is that some players may only start performing and connecting at the elite level later on in the Olympic cycle, but we can use this event to make some more evaluations.

“The quality of training our players will get in Russia will help towards preparing players for our major objective this year – the World Championships in September. As we are still in the transitional phase of the Olympic cycle, we will be looking for improved performances in order to establish a sound platform ahead of the Worlds,” Hicks added.

Britain’s two European medallistsat the 2010 Championships Euan Burton (-81kg) and Karina Bryant (+78kg) have been selected to compete in their respective weight categories.

Burton excelled during a Japan tour at the end of 2009, winning a gold medal in the Tokyo Grand Slam and also won a silver medal at the Dusseldorf Grand Prix at the start of this year, making him a prominent 4 th in the World according to the IJF Ranking List.

Bryant earned a 5th place at the 2010 Paris Grand Slam, alongside Matthew Purssey who has also been selected to compete in the -90kg competition.

Making their British debut at a Grand Slam will be Kelly Edwards (-48kg), Gemma Howell (-57kg), Daniel Williams (-73kg), James Austin (-100kg) and Chris Sherrington (+100kg).

British Judo’s Head Coach, Patrick Roux will decide on the second player to compete in the -60kg and -90kg weight categories closer to the event.

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Full Team Lineup

Published by, BritishJudo.org.uk

At The Heart of England Event, due to NIA Regulations. There will be no large bags / ice boxes allowed in the seating area. The is for health an safety reasons. To accommodate your need’s a holding area will be available, for you to store your items.

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The first ever Birmingham Schools Judo Championships saw 81 excited competitors take to the mat on Tuesday May 25 th at Bishop Challoner College.

The players represented 10 secondary schools, 8 of which fell within the Birmingham City Council Educational boundaries. The much-anticipated event featured 68 boys and 12 girls.

For many participants the event was their first taste of competitive judo. They have found their way into the sport and received first-class coaching through a host of diverse and accessible schemes which run in the city.

In addition to The School Sport Partnerships and The Catholic Partnership, The Premier League 4 Sport has a strong and visible presence. Aston Villa Football Club have established a satellite sports club at four schools which delivers the Olympic disciplines of judo, volleyball, table tennis and badminton.

Phil Homer, of the Bishop Challoner, Baverstock and Colmers School Sports Partnerships, served as competition manager.

“The event attracted players from all backgrounds, colours, races and sizes and ages,” he said.

“There were two players with a severe visual impairment, and their skills and guile was extremely impressive.”

Volunteer referees were on hand to office the event and provide another youthful edge to proceedings.

“We received great support from the BJA who arranged for some fantastic volunteer referees to officiate. They drove across the country to attend and that was much appreciated.”

“There referees helped to provided a fantastic introduction for the players into the regime and protocol of judo.

After the success of the sport’s first Birmingham School Championships the competition organiser is now looking to the future.

“Looking to the future we want to develop a clear structure that is linked into all the initiatives within judo that are proactive and supported locally,” said Homer.

“We aim to maximise the club structure and use this network to support and promote the competition to improve the attendance and organisation and running of the competition.

“There were two schools that couldn’t make the date so the numbers could be a lot higher at the next event which will now become a regular fixture on the judo calendar in Birmingham.”

The British Judo Association’s Children & Young People Development Manager, Daniel Griffin, said: “This events definitely demonstrates that judo competitions can be delivered at school level across a variety of ages and abilities.  We are currently writing the BJA’s school’s competition framework for general release to the Competition Manager network by early 2011.”

Published By, BritishJudo.org.uk