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Great Britain claimed
10 medals including five gold at the Swedish European Cup on Saturday
30 and Sunday 31 October in Boras.
The eight-strong team
selected by Head Coach Patrick Roux produced two gold medals and
a bronze while a host of established internationals entered themselves
and excelled in Scandinavia.
Sweden’s two-day event
attracted 378 competitors and some of the sports European powerhouses,
who all fielded teams in vast numbers. Russia fielded 53 judoka,
the Netherlands took a squad of 47 while Germany had 39 representatives.
The in-form Ashley McKenzie
defeated France’s Sylvain Goulet and Spaniard Raul Clemente by
ippon before seeing off Israel’s Ohad Idels by a waza-ari.
McKenzie, 21, who triumphed
at the British Open in May and German European Cup in August,
overcome Scot Graham Trinder to seal a final against Sweden’s
own Olle Sundstroem.
A single waza-ari was
the difference as the London talent produced another fine gold
medal-winning outing on the European circuit.
In the under 73kg category
Patrick Dawson bested Finnish fighter Kalle Teivaala by ippon
before falling to Peter Scharinger of Switzerland.
At under 81kg David
Groom was defeated by Frenchman Abderrahim Alaoui.
In the under 90kg category Theo Spalding-McIntosh was overcome
by Russian Pavel Abramov.
Gemma Howell, winner
of three European Cup titles in 2010 already, had a bye in the
first round but announced herself in the category by surging past
Russia’s Yulia Ryzhova and Sweden’s Mia Hermansson by a waza-ari
and ippon respectively.
The 20-year-old defeated
Spaniard Nieva Larraya by a yuko but then lost out to Carla Grol
of the Netherlands by hansoku for a leg grab.
Julia Ruiz of France
stood between Howell and a bronze medal, a pending podium appearance
was eventually booked by way of two wza-ari scores.
In the under 63kg division
Kate Walker exited the competition after losing out to Esther
Stam of the Netherlands.
In the under 70kg action
Megan Fletcher, who took silver at August’s European Cup in Germany,
had a bye in the opening round before tasting her first action
on the mat in a win over Marloes Van Mourik by two waza-ari scores.
Fletcher ended the campaign
of Russian pair Ekaterina Denisenkova and Irina Sordiya, the two
victories sealing passage through to the final against Stephanie
Egger of Switzerland. The Briton impressively claimed the title
after posting a yuko score.
Fellow under 70kg fighter
Scarlett Woolcock was originally selected but missed out through
injury while under 81kg campaigner Craig Stewart was also unable
to compete.
Elsewhere a talent-laden
field of British internationals were in action while Scotland
took a squad of four to Sweden.
Karina
Bryant reeled off four victories to claim gold in the over 78kg
category while under 73kg fighter Jan Gosiewski and under 81kg
judoka Tom Reed both won all six of their fights to also reign
supreme.
Scotland’s James Austin
scored a silver medal in the under 100kg category while Thomas
Davis and Sam Lowe took bronze at under 81kg and under 78kg respectively.
Former world and European
champion Craig Fallon was in under 66kg action and continued his
comeback by taking a bronze medal.
There were also credible
fifth-place finishes for Gregg Varey and Scot Graham Trinder in
the under 60kg category.
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