Goginashvili Leads British Medal Charge at the 2026 Kaunas Junior European Cup
April 27, 2026
A strong British junior contingent delivered an impressive set of results over the weekend, claiming multiple medals at the Kaunas Junior European Cup in Lithuania, while a group of cadets gained valuable international experience at the Berlin Cadet European Cup in Germany.
Kaunas Junior European Cup
Irakli Goginashvili (Palavani JC) produced the standout performance of the weekend, securing gold in the -73kg category. The reigning Junior European Champion and Junior World bronze medallist dominated throughout, progressing from the Round of 32 to the final without conceding a single score. His victory marks a perfect start to his 2026 campaign and his first medal of the year.
Also competing in the -73kg division, Eden Heffernan (Pro Judo) narrowly missed out on the podium, finishing in 5th place, his best result of the year so far in just his third competition of 2026.
Nicole Wood (Bishops Stortford JK) secured silver in the -78kg category. Entering at the quarter-final stage, she progressed confidently to the final, where she pushed the contest into golden score before narrowly missing out on gold. This result continues an excellent run of form, following silver at the Poznan Junior European Cup, gold at the Riga Senior European Cup, and a 5th-place finish in Sarajevo earlier this year.
The -52kg division proved a highlight for Great Britain, yielding two bronze medals and a 5th-place finish. Kate Chisholm (Judo Sensei London) claimed bronze, continuing her consistent form after a silver in Poznan and a 7th-place finish in Mostoles. Joining her on the podium was Lola Hodson (Dragons Academy), who secured her second consecutive bronze at this level, adding to her earlier silver at the Tunis African Open this year.
Amelia Alder (JC Osaka) placed 5th, narrowly missing out on bronze in an all-British contest. Nevertheless, it represents her best result of 2026 in only her second competition of the year.
In the -60kg category, Joseph Buchanan (Sportif) delivered a strong performance to finish 5th. After progressing to the semi-finals, he entered the bronze medal contest and made a strong start, ultimately just missing out on the podium. It marks a positive opening to his international season.
Gheorghe Tataru (Palavani) also secured a 5th-place finish in the -100kg division, his best result at junior level since stepping up from the cadet ranks, where he enjoyed considerable success in late 2025.
In the -48kg category, Eva Ewing (Edinburgh Judo) placed 7th, building on her earlier 5th-place finish at the Sarajevo Junior European Cup and continuing her steady development on the international stage.
Berlin Cadet European Cup
While no medals were secured in Berlin, the British cadet squad gained valuable experience competing against strong international opposition. The event provided important development opportunities and valuable time on the tatami for all involved.
Congratulations to all athletes and coaches on a successful and productive weekend of international competition!
