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Over the winter period,
while the snow made a mockery of the festive sporting calendar,
hundreds of British judoka fine tuned their skills ahead of going
toe-to-toe at the British u20 and Senior Trials which will take
place at the EIS Sheffield on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 January.
The star-studded battleground
is where the country’s finest judo exponents converge to stake
their claim for international selection – only this time the senior
players and some exceptional juniors have their sights firmly
on the Olympic Games next year.
The 2011 instalment
promises to be the most dramatic and significant to date as top-level
judoka leave it all on the mat with the unforgettable incentive
of propelling themselves into the British setup and a tilt at
a once in a lifetime appearance at an Olympic Games on British
soil.
For fans the event represents
the unique and hugely intriguing opportunity to witness international
team-mates square off in a high stakes environment.
The best of the best
will be in action as Euan Burton, Karina Bryant, Sarah Clark,
a returning Craig Fallon and fellow 60kg star Ashley McKenzie
join the likes of Sophie Cox, Winston Gordon and youngsters Gemma
Howell and Kelly Edwards.
There are mouth-watering
clashes in prospect as former World Champion Craig Fallon could
meet reigning u23 European Champion Ashley McKenzie for the first
time while Karina Bryant will feature in a over 78kg field featuring
the fast-rising Sarah Adlington.
The talented trio of
Gemma Gibbons, Sally Conway and Megan Fletcher will contest an
absorbing under 70kg category.
Camberley pair Sophie
Johnstone and Samantha Lowe will be in action as they compete
in the under 52kg and under 78kg categories respectively.
Several young players
will see action in the senior competition as the likes of highly-regarded
Lewis Keeble, Owen Livesey, Louise Little, Samantha Clark and
Sarah Biles take on the cream of the British crop.
Wolverhampton Judo Club’s
16-year-old standout and reigning British Champion Freya Dechastelain,
who made her senior debut at the GB World Cup in October, will
compete in both the junior and the senior trials.
The outcome of these
contests will give us more than a hint of who could line-up as
part of the British team in London next year.
On the Saturday Britain’s
brightest young judoka will take to the mat at the u20 Trials.
Among a line-up brimming with promising talents and long-time
GB junior internationals, will be emerging names such as 2010
BJA Young Referee of the Year Natasha Maslen, sisters Amy and
Becky Livesey, Conall McGregor and Lucy Renshall.
The eagerly-anticipated
event will also be streamed lived on the British Judo homepage.
The live stream will
start at approximately 10am both days and will feature two of
the four mats at any one time. Streaming is subject to the internet
connection available throughout the duration of the event, for
which the BJA cannot be held responsible.
Tickets can be purchased
at the venue from the BJA ticket desk on Saturday and Sunday -
Adults £6, children £3.
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