Three medals were won by the Olympic team at the 2008 German Open at the weekend, the last event prior to Beijing. A total of five British medals were won overall.

It was two out of two from the Olympic team on day one with Karina Bryant winning gold in the +78kg weight category, and Euan Burton winning silver, fighting a weight category up at -90kg.

Burton beat Gielis of Belgium, and then Haas of Germany with an armlock for ippon. Against Pfeiffer of Germany the Brit received two penalties for passivity, but in the last minute applied pressure to his opponent to win back a penalty, before throwing him for a yuko.

In the semi final against the very physical Van Der Berg of the Netherlands, both players received penalties, but Burton secured a koka score to secure his spot in the final.

Against former Olympic Champion Huizinger of the Netherlands in the final both fighters got chances early on. Burton, who looked good technically, tactically and physically, received a shido for two hands on one side whilst trying to break Huizinger’s grip. He later received a second shido for passivity before finally losing in the last 10 seconds on the ground.

A gold was a fantastic result for Karina Bryant, and having worked extremely hard to get back to her best, looked particularly strong throughout the day. In her first fight against Shepherd of Australia, Karina was physically too powerful for her opponent, who attempted two kata gurumas which did not move Karina, and on the third she countered it for ippon.

Her second fight against Konitz of Germany was a true test against a particularly athletic heavyweight. Konitz caught Bryant right at the start for a yuko, but she regained composure and controlled the grips and the fight to force a penalty and a counter throw for yuko, which was enough to win. She also had two ippons disallowed, after both were deemed after matte.

Her third fight against Beinroth of Germany was a big grip fight with both players getting opportunities to throw. However Karina took an opportunity on the ground and finished with an armlock against her opponent.

Winston Gordon (-90kg) did not compete as he had tweaked his knee at a training camp Casteldelfels, Spain, and although this is not serious it needed to be rested. Two weeks ago Gordon clinched bronze in Slovenia.

Other British results on day one included Sarah Adlington who finished in 5 th place in the +78kg weight category, and James Millar who performed well winning bronze in -60kg.

On day two Michelle Roger’s (-78kg) first fight against Ouerdane of Algeria started with a strong grip pattern and Rogers looked comfortable. However she got countered for a yuko early on and this changed her fight. She kept pressure on and the Algerian received a penalty, but subsequently threw the Brit or wazari and held in the final 20 seconds. Although Rogers was disappointed not to progress further she will hopefully take some positives from her bronze in Slovenia two weeks ago.

Peter Cousins won the third British medal by the Olympic team – gold in the -100kg weight category, beating Bingen of the Netherlands in his first fight, then Behrla of Germany with a yuko. In his third fight against Griedanaus of the Netherlands both fighters received a penalty for passivity. Griedanaus then received a second penalty when Cousins increased the pressure. He finished the fight on the ground winning by the maximum ippon score.

In the semi final against Krpalek of the Czech Republic, Cousins controlled the fight from the start with good grip patterns. He threw Krpalek for a yuko, then went straight into groundwork where he held down his opponent for ippon.

In the final against Meeuwsen of the Netherlands Cousins dominated from the start and his opponent was quickly penalised for passivity. The Brit continued to dominate and threw for two yukos, before winning the fight, throwing Meeuwsen for Ippon.

Craig Fallon fought a weight category higher at -66kg. His first fight against Myakinin of Russia was an extremely dynamic fight, with Fallon catching his opponent with a leg grab for yuko and a further wazari. The final exchange, which resulted in Craig throwing for ippon was an incredible example of agility, power and control.

Schetters of the Netherland was not in the same league as Fallon in his second fight and the Brit finished the fight, throwing his opponent for ippon

Against Elmot of the Netherlands, Fallon got for a koka early on, and although Fallon fought back but he could not get the finish. Unfortunately at the four minute mark his eye split and although he continued it disrupted the flow of the fight and his opponent won the match. At this point Fallon withdraw due to the eye injury in order to try and minimise any disruption to the training camp following the competition.

Sarah Clark was another of the Brits who fought up a weight category, competing at -70kg. In her first fight against Van Hernier of Germany, Clark’s grip strategy was strong, but she was caught on the ground. Unfortunately Clark was not pulled back into the repechage.

The fifth British medal came from Sally Conway in the -70kg weight category, who continues to show strength at a senior level and is no doubt one to watch heading towards London.

The Olympic team continue their preparations at the German training camp this week before returning to the UK for their last preparations on home soil before the Games.

Media Contact:

Emma Griffin

(t) 07875 368495

(e) emmagriffin@britishjudo.org.uk