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As the volcanic ash cloud
continues to disrupt the European sports scene the Great Britain
judo team are on a 16-hour road trip to Austria for the Senior
European Championships which run from Thursday April 22nd – Sunday
April 25th .
The squad were due to
fly out from London on Wednesday for the high-profile event which
brings together the continent’s finest fighters.
Three British players
will be in action on the opening day on Thursday and they elected
to travel out on Monday afternoon. Kelly Edwards, Colin Oates
and James Millar travelled with British Judo’s Performance Operations
Manager Karen Roberts and Coach Billy Cusack.
Roberts said: “Kelly,
Colin and James decided they wanted a day there before competing
which is understandable.”
“The rest of the squad
left on a coach on Tuesday morning and will arrive in Vienna by
Wednesday lunchtime.”
Great Britain’s plans
have been complicated further by four rival countries currently
being based at the British Judo Performance Institute in Dartford
for an EJU Olympic Training Camp. The Russian team and their
Bulgarian, Lithuanian and Slovenian counterparts have all been
preparing for the event at the British facility.
“The Russian team have
decided to go their own way and get a train to Brussels and then
mini buses to Austria while Slovenia, Bulgaria and Lithuania will
travel with the British squad on Tuesday.“
The arduous 900-mile
journey will see the squad travel through France, Belgium and
Germany en route to Austria.
“We looked into other
means of transport, we looked at going on the train but it was
just as long and required several changes,” said Roberts.
“We have kept the players
apprised of our plans at all times and they appreciate the situation.”
Roberts believes the
players will be tired from the journey but will be focused when
they step on the mat.
“We’re trying to build
a team at the moment, a 16 hour road trip may not be ideal but
it could be good for morale.
“This sort of thing
happened more often in the past when I was player, now we have
a luxury coach and we can make sure the players are relaxed as
possible.
“They want to be there
and having gone through such a journey they’ll be determined to
perform well. The European Championships are a major event and
even given the circumstances we’re well placed to have a strong
showing.”
The British Judo Association
is the National Governing Body for the Olympic Sport of judo in
Great Britain.
© David Finch
Media Contacts:
Nicola Turner
British Judo
(t) 01509 631692
(e) nicola.turner@britishjudo.org.uk
Mark Pickering
British Judo
(t) 01509 631674
(e) mark.pickering@britishjudo.org.uk
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