A nine-strong British team has been selected to compete in the 2010 Junior European Championships, held from 17th -19th September.

Returning to Sofia for the second time, with the Bulgarian capital previously hosting the event in 2004, the Junior European Championships is the biggest judo event in Europe for players under the age of 20.

Competing on the tough stage for the second time of their careers are Brandon Dodge (-55kg), Owen Livesey (-73kg), whilst competing in the event for the third time is Samantha Clark (-52kg).

At just 14, Hayley Willis is the youngest player to be selected and will fight in the -44kg category. The successful cadet has recently won gold medals at the 2010 Venray International Tournament and 2010 Madrid Cadet International, and holds the British Championship title for 2008 and 2009.

16-year-old Freya Dechastelain has had an interesting year, sitting her GCSE’s, being selected for the European Cadets Championships and will contest the -48kg category in Sofia.

Both of these players are part of the England Talent Development programme and benefit from weekly visits to their respective ExCell centre where quality contact time is gained and a pathway is built to take her from club to eventual GB success.

Owen Livesey, Lewis Keeble and Tom Williams have already graduated from the ETD programme to the GB programmes and have trained extensively together with Josh Butlar in the British Judo Performance Institute programme.

Similarly Sam Clark and Jodie Mullen are part of the Scottish Performance programme and Brandon Dodge the Welsh Performance programme.

The aim of the Home Country programmes are to ensure that players are developed technically, nurtured and then transferred successfully to the Great Britain programme.

After recently competing in the German and Polish Junior European Cups, the players have had a taste of the international junior stage. Notable wins came from Josh Butler (-100kg) with a silver medal and Jodie Mullen (-63kg) & Hayley Willis (-44kg) took bronze medals in Poland.

Performance Operations Manager said, “For the younger players like Hayley and Freya, this event is the start of their growth and will set up their career into the junior level.

“For the older players who are soon to make a transition to the senior level, this will be the pinnacle of their junior career. Each will personally want results as for many it will be the last time they can compete in this event.

“The team will be in good condition going into the Junior Europeans, with training camps in Spain, Poland, Germany, Japan and at our very own British Judo Performance Institute,” Roberts added.

Friday 17th September  will see the -44kg, -48kg, -52kg, -55kg, -60kg and-66kg weight categories compete. On Saturday 18th September the -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, -73kg anc -81kg competitions will take place. On the final day of competition, Sunday 19th September, the -78kg, +78kg, -90kg, -100kg and +100kg players will compete.

FULL TEAM:

Samantha Clark (right)

© Mike Varey