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The British Judo Association
has named a 21-strong team for the 2010 World Championships in
Tokyo, Japan, on 9 to 13 September.
The 27th edition of
the famed event, which was previously held every two years, is
being staged in consecutive years for the first time in its 54-year
history, and will now be held on an annual basis in all but Olympic
years.
Judo’s much-anticipated
marquee event has also introduced two places in each weight category
for each country which has seen the GB party - the second World
Championship team under Head Coach Patrick Roux - increase from
14 players in 2009 to 20 this year.
The squad has a youthful
feel with nine members being 23 or under while 10 players are
making their World Championship debuts. They include Shropshire
teenager Kelly Edwards, Wolverhampton’s Gemma Howell, 21-year-old
Megan Fletcher, Camberley’s Danny Williams, 23-year-old Michael
Horley, Devon’s Scarlett Woolcock and 23-year-old Gemma Gibbons.
The established trio
of Sarah Adlington, Tom Reed and James Austin will also make their
inaugural appearances at the event in September.
Nine members of last
year’s squad have been retained. Edinburgh-based standout Sally
Conway made her breakthrough in last year’s event with a highly-commendable
fifth-place finish in her World Championship debut.
Under 63kg fighter Faith
Pitman, who finished seventh in Brazil in 2007, returns while
former four-time European Champion, Karina Bryant - one of the
sport’s most prolific medallists - will take part subject to a
fitness test. Bryant won a silver medal last year, Britain’s only
medal at the 2009 event.
Former European Champion
Sarah Clark will also take part subject to fitness while Kimberley
Renicks will also take centre stage in Japan.
2007 World Championship
bronze medallist, Scotland’s Euan Burton - one of the titans of
British Judo - is joined by fellow 2009 competitors Colin Oates,
Ashley McKenzie and Winston Gordon, who returned to the international
fold in June after a nine-month injury lay-off.
James Millar will make
his first appearance at the competition since 2007 where he was
a late replacement for the injured Craig Fallon.
Margaret Hicks, British
Judo’s Performance Director, said: “The 2010 World Championships
Team for Tokyo has been selected with two goals in mind;
one for experienced players who are connecting successfully at
the elite level to perform at this event and the second for development
players to continue to make the right progressions.
“A larger team is possible
for this World Championships as two players are allowed per weight
category, unlike the 2012 London Olympics where only one qualified
player per country is permitted. We had some good performances
in the Grand Slam in Tokyo at the end of last year and we have
built on this experience to ensure our players are used to competing
and training in Japan.”
Former two-time European
Championship runner-up and Olympic judoka Sophie Cox (-52kg) was
a late addition to the team. A full story on Cox's selection can
be found here.
Weight
|
Name
|
Home
Town |
Lives
|
Age
|
Club
|
British
Judo Performance base |
-48kg
|
Kelly
Edwards |
Telford
|
Dartford
|
19
|
Wrekin
Star JC |
BJPI
|
-48kg
|
Kimberley
Renicks
|
Coatbridge
|
Coatbridge
|
22
|
Kanokwai
JC |
Ratho
|
| -52kg |
Sophie Cox |
Rochdale
|
Rochdale
|
28 |
Bacup
Judo Club |
BJPI |
-57kg
|
Gemma
Howell |
Telford |
Sidcup
|
20
|
Wolverhampton
JC |
BJPI
|
-63kg
|
Sarah
Clark |
South
Shields |
Edinburgh
|
32
|
Edinburgh
JC |
Ratho
|
-63kg
|
Faith
Pitman |
Todmorden
|
Harlow
|
25
|
West
Essex JC |
BJPI
|
-70kg
|
Sally
Conway |
Bristol |
Edinburgh
|
23
|
Edinburgh
JC |
Ratho
|
-70kg
|
Megan
Fletcher |
Wokingham
|
Wokingham
|
21
|
Pinewood
JC/Bath |
|
-78kg
|
Gemma
Gibbons |
Greenwich
|
Charlton
|
23
|
Metro
JC |
BJPI
|
-78kg
|
Scarlett
Woolcock |
Newton
Abbot, Devon |
Dartford
|
20
|
Tamar
JC |
BJPI
|
+78kg
|
Karina
Bryant |
Aldershot |
Camberley
|
31
|
Camberley
JC |
BJPI
|
+78kg
|
Sarah
Adlington |
Bayston
Hill |
Edinburgh
|
24
|
Edinburgh
JC |
Ratho
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-60kg
|
Ashley
McKenzie |
London
|
London
|
21
|
|
BJPI
|
-60kg
|
James
Millar |
Edinburgh
|
Edinburgh
|
29
|
Edinburgh
|
Ratho
|
-66kg
|
Colin
Oates |
North
Lopham |
North
Lopham |
27
|
Kumo
JC |
BJPI
|
-73kg
|
Danny
Williams |
Midlands |
Camberley
|
21
|
Camberley
JC |
BJPI
|
-81kg
|
Euan
Burton |
Edinburgh
|
Edinburgh
|
31
|
Edinburgh
JC |
Ratho
|
-81kg
|
Tom
Reed |
Devizes
|
Bath
|
24
|
Team
Bath |
BJPI
|
-90kg
|
Winston
Gordon |
Wandsworth
|
Wandsworth
|
33
|
Budokwai/Ernest
Bevin |
BJPI
|
-90kg
|
Michael
Horley |
Carlisle
|
Carlisle
|
23
|
Kendal
Judo Club |
|
-100kg
|
James
Austin |
Lichfield
|
Edinburgh
|
27
|
Hardy
Spicer |
Ratho
|
|