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K2 Leisure Centre in
Crawley will host the largest ever British Open Judo Championships
this Saturday and Sunday (15th -16th May) since it was first held
at the venue in 2007.
Some 400 competitors from around the
world, including some from as far afield as the USA, will fight
at the Championships, which also celebrates its 43rd year anniversary.
This year, two thirds
of the line up will see international players and delegations
representing countries including Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Latvia, Luxemburg, Maldives, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia,
Switzerland and Sweden.
British medal hopes
at the event include Gemma Howell (-57kg), who will make her comeback
after long term injury, Tom Reed in the -90kg weight category,
James Millar (-60kg) and current visually impaired World Champion
Ben Quilter (-60kg).
Brother to James, David
Millar will contest the -66kg weight category, and are one of
seven sets of siblings competing over the weekend.
Commenting, Densign
White BJA Chairman said, “The 2010 British Open will be very exciting
this year, with a record number of competitors the event has seen
at K2 Crawley.
“It is fantastic to
see the Championships still being well supported by national teams,
clubs and individuals from around the world.
“The British Open this
year has become an official EJU Senior European Cup event and
is an important part of the European Judo Union’s plans to introduce
a new tier of competition in Europe, which can be used to build
experience and as a spring board to the next level of competition”.
K2 Crawley, one of the country's flag-ship
leisure centres, is operated by freedom leisure, a not-for-profit
leisure trust managing 19 leisure and fitness centres across Sussex
and Kent on behalf of Crawley Borough
Council. Freedom leisure is host to both national and
international sporting events.
The action will kick
off at 9am on both days with the Men’s: -60kg, -66kg -73kg weight
categories and Women’s: -63kg, -70kg, -78kg, +78kg weight categories
competing on Saturday 15th May.
And Sunday 16th May
will see the Men’s: -81kg, -90kg, -100kg, +100kg and Women’s:
-48kg, -52kg, -57kg weight categories in action,
Entry is £10 per day
for adults and £5 for concessions (OAPs and under 16s). A weekend
ticket costs £16 for adults and £7.50 for concessions.
Media Contact:
Nicola Turner
PR Officer
British Judo Association
(t) 01509 631692/07854
244343
nicola.turner@britishjudo.org.uk
Action
from the 2009 British Open
©
Mike Varey
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