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Craig Fallon has today
become Britain’s first male European judo Champion in ten years
after winning gold on the first day of the 2006 European Judo
Championships, in Tampere, Finland.
Fallon, who won the
–60kg World title in September last year, beat the reigning European
Champion Armen Nazaryan of Armenia in the final by ippon to take
gold.
In the semi final he
defeated Athens Olympic silver medallist Nestor Khergiani of Georgia,
and in the early rounds convincingly beat Kamil Sulek of Poland
and Joao Cardoso of Portugal.
The 23-year-old from
Wolverhampton, who trains at the Hardy Spicer Judo Club in Birmingham,
was competing in his first European Championships since he clinched
silver in 2003.
Fallon now holds both
the World and European titles – the first British male to do so
since Neil Adams won the European gold in 1983 whilst holding
the 1981 World title.
Afterwards Colin McIver,
British Judo High Performance Director said, “Craig’s win has
confirmed his status as the best –60kg judo player in the world.
He is truly an outstanding talent”.
Also today, Matthew
Purssey finished 5 th in the men’s –73kg weight category.
The Championships continue
over the weekend. On Saturday Sarah Clark, 2004 European bronze
medallist, will be a medal hope in the –63kg after taking bronze
at the GB World Cup earlier this month. 2005 European bronze medallist
Euan Burton will also be hoping for success in the –81kg weight
category.
On Sunday four times
European Champion, Karina Bryant will be looking to hold on to
her current European +78kg title. While Winston Gordon, who placed
5 th in the 2004 Athens Olympics, aims to take his first European
Championship medal.
Fallon
in action on the way to European Gold © David Finch
Women:
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Category:
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Selected:
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Home
Town |
Club
|
Personal
Coach |
Date
of Birth |
- 52
kgs |
Sophie
Johnstone |
Brighton
|
Bridgeview
|
Mark
Earle |
23/8/84
|
| -57kg |
Faith Pitman |
Harlow |
Camberley |
Mark Earle |
4/5/1985 |
- 63
kgs |
Sarah
Clark |
Edinburgh
|
Edinburgh
|
Billy
Cusack |
31/1/78
|
- 70
kgs |
Samantha
Lowe |
Ovington
|
Camberley
|
Mark
Earle |
20/1/82
|
- 78
kgs |
Michelle
Rogers |
Swinton,
Manchester |
Whitburn
/SIS |
Darcel
Yandzi |
21/06/76
|
+ 78
kgs |
Karina
Bryant |
Aldershot
|
Camberley
|
Mark
Earle |
27/1/79
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Men:
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- 60
kgs |
Craig
Fallon |
Wolverhampton
|
Hardy
Spicer 83 |
Fitzroy
Davies |
18/12/82
|
- 66
kgs |
Colin
Oates |
North
Lopham, Norfolk |
Kumo
|
Howard
Oates |
7/6/83
|
- 73
kgs |
Matthew
Purssey |
Edinburgh
|
Edinburgh
|
Billy
Cusack |
23/2/81
|
- 81
kgs |
Euan
Burton |
Edinburgh
|
Edinburgh
|
Billy
Cusack |
31/3/79
|
- 90
kgs |
Winston
Gordon |
London
|
Budokwai
|
Eric
Bonti |
9/11/76
|
- 100
kgs |
Peter
Cousins |
Harlow
|
JSC
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John
Cottis |
3/3/81
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