London Dominate 2026 National Team Championships with Three Team Titles
July 06, 2026
This weekend, the British Judo community gathered in Walsall for another fantastic edition of the National Team Championships, with teams from across Great Britain giving it their all in one of the most exciting events on the domestic calendar.
This year’s championships featured an impressive 50 teams representing 11 areas and home nations, with six team titles up for grabs across the day.
London emerged as the standout team at this year’s National Team Championships in Walsall, winning three of the six titles on offer and finishing with five medals overall, the joint-highest total alongside Scotland.
Senior Men
London arrived as defending champions and once again booked their place in the final, where they faced a determined South side.
One of the closest and most dramatic team contests of the day saw London take the early advantage through Jessy Braid. However, the South responded in style, with victories from Harry Le Mare, Cameron Charles, Cameron Hickey and Daniel Ede securing a superb 4-1 victory to claim the senior men’s title for a consecutive year.
Bronze: North West and Scotland
Senior Women
Scotland entered the event as defending champions after lifting the title in 2025, but this year it was London who proved to be the team to beat.
Led by Olympic silver medallist Prisca Awiti Alcaraz, London produced a series of impressive performances throughout the day before meeting the South in the final. Continuing their dominant form, London sealed the title with a convincing 4-1 victory to become the new National Team Champions.
Bronze: North West and Northern Home Counties
Cadet and Junior Boys
London were once again among the standout teams of the day as they faced defending champions Scotland in what was arguably the most passionate and fiercely contested final of the championships.
The two teams traded victories throughout the contest, with the score locked at 3-3 heading into the decisive final bout. Luka Gigilashvili rose to the occasion, defeating Vasiliy Menshykov to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory for London, sparking huge celebrations from both the team and the crowd.
Bronze: Midlands and South
Cadet and Junior Girls
London continued their impressive run of success by retaining the Cadet and Junior Girls title for a second consecutive year.
Facing the Midlands in the final, London claimed their third gold medal of the day with another commanding 4-1 victory. Among the standout performances were Sandra Sapon, who secured victory in just 23 seconds, and Deborah O’Neal, who followed with an equally impressive 31-second win.
Bronze: Northern Home Counties and Scotland
Minors and Pre-Cadet Boys
Northern Home Counties and defending champions Scotland progressed to an enthralling final, with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage as the contest stood level at 3-3 heading into the final bout.
The deciding contest saw Northern Home Counties’ Jake Barr face Scotland’s Angus Mavat. Barr held his nerve to secure the crucial victory, sealing both the individual win and the team title as Northern Home Counties claimed the gold medal.
Bronze: North West and London
Minors and Pre-Cadet Girls
Defending champions North West met Scotland in the final, with the Scottish side looking to improve on last year’s bronze medal finish.
Scotland made the perfect start, taking a 2-0 lead through opening victories from Olivia Smith and Lily MacTaggart. North West responded through Daisy O’Brian and Ruby Finney to level the contest and force a winner-takes-all final bout.
Rebecca Gray delivered under pressure, securing victory in the deciding contest to give Scotland a hard-fought 3-2 win, and their first and only gold medal of the day.
Bronze: South and Northern Home Counties
