TO COMMONWEALTH JUDO PLAYER PROFILES Welcome

MEMBER’S GUIDE TO COMMONWEALTH JUDO PLAYER PROFILES Welcome

Dear friends Welcome to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. This is the first time since 2002 that judo has been a feature of the Commonwealth Games, when it was held in Manchester. This year’s Games rides on the crest of London 2012; only 14 players could represent us in the English capital yet in Glasgow this has been quadrupled across the Home Countries - giving our judoka even more opportunities of medal success in front of a home crowd. The Glasgow Commonwealth Games will be a huge spectacle and the atmosphere is bound to be electric not just for our players but for our spectators and supporters, in fact for everyone involved. Not only will it leave a memory to last a lifetime, it will also set the stage for our European Open in October 2014 and for the European Championships to be held at the Emirates Arena in 2015. In this special commemorative guide for members, we profile each and every Commonwealth Games contender from the Home Nations. Each country has its own dedicated team leader and coaching team. On the day it will be up to the players to perform. We wish them every success and luck.

Kerrith Brown Andrew Scoular Chairman Chief Executive EVENT GUIDE

Thursday 24 July 2014 Friday 25 July 2014 Saturday 26 July 2014 Men’s -60kg Men’s -73kg Men’s -90kg Men’s -66kg Men’s -81kg Men’s -100kg Women’s -48kg Women’s -63kg Men’s +100kg Women’s -52kg Women’s -70kg Women’s -78kg Women’s -57kg Women’s +78kg

2 MEMBER’S GUIDE TO COMMONWEALTH JUDO PLAYER PROFILES Team England

Team Leader: Matt Divall Coach: Jamie Johnson and Luke Preston

COLIN OATES HOMETOWN: NORTH LOPHAM CLUB: KUMO CATEGORY: -66KG Colin Oates showed his standout talent to the world as he finished in seventh-place at London 2012 on his Olympic debut. Since then the Norfolk judoka has climbed to the upper echelons of the -66kg category. In 2013 Oates took silver in San Salvador Continental Open, and repeated the result at the Moscow Grand Slam. At the World Championships he beat the reigning Olympic Champion Lasha Shavdatu- ashvili with an incredible ippon in a revenge rematch of London 2012 and triumphed over double former World Champion Rishod Sobirov by a yuko. In 2014 Colin Oates took his career best with a gold at the Baku Grand Slam. This came a month after a bronze medal at the Samsun Grand Prix. “The public will take a great interest in the Commonwealth Games so it’s a real chance for the players involved to demonstrate how good judo can be as a sport.” Best Results 2011 World championships - 5th 2012 London 2012 Olympic Games - 7th 2014 Baku Grand Slam - Gold FIND YOUR NEAREST CLUB ONLINE AT BRITISHJUDO.ORG.UK\CLUBFIND 3 PLAYER PROFILES

KELLY EDWARDS NEKODA DAVIS HOMETOWN: TELFORD HOMETOWN: ACTON CLUB: RATHO, EDINBURGH CLUB: CATEGORY: -52KG CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE Kelly Edwards burst onto the interna- CATEGORY: -57KG tional stage by taking seventh-place Nekoda Davis, formerly of Ealing Judo on her European Championship debut Club, is an aspiring 2016 Olympian at the age of 19, a product of Wrekin based full-time at the British Judo Star but now trains out of Edinburgh. Centre of Excellence. This is her After taking bronze at the 2008 second year as a senior. Last year Junior European Championships, she won the Senior European Cup in the Dartford-based standout has Sarajevo, gained two bronze medals established herself as a senior with a at the European Opens in Lisbon and string of fine displays including winning Madrid and ended her junior year with the Malaga European Cup and London a bronze medal at the U21 European British Open. Championships in September. She became British Champion at -57kg She said: “I want to win, but I know judo is one of those sports where class in December 2013 and was also awarded female Junior Player of anything can happen on the day.” the Year. This year she achieved a bronze medal in Madrid. Best Results “It is a real honour to be competing. I have a good chance of medalling.” 2008 European (U20s) Championship - Bronze Best Results 2010 European Championships Vienna - 7th 2013 (U21) European Championships - Bronze 2014 European Open Madrid - Bronze

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MEGAN FLETCHER FAITH PITMAN HOMETOWN: WOKINGHAM HOMETOWN: TODMORDEN CLUB: TEAM BATH CLUB: CATEGORY: -70KG WEST ESSEX JUDO CLUB Former European Cadet Championship CATEGORY: -63KG bronze medallist Megan Fletcher As well as being a full-time athlete, took seventh-place at the Olympic Faith Pitman is a qualified sports Test Event and counts a gold in the massage therapist and personal Pan American open in Uruguay in trainer. She is also a member of West March followed by silver in another Essex Judo Club and is no stranger to Pan American Open the same month international competitions and one of followed by a recent bronze in the her career bests includes a gold at the European Open in Spain. Rjeka Grand Prix. She now has her sights firmly set on “I am incredibly patriotic and very Rio 2016 combining her training for proud to be English so to be selected this with working part-time as a geography teacher. to fight as part of Team England is a great honour. I hope to medal for Best Results both my country and West Essex Judo Club.” 2014 Pan American Open Uruguay - Gold Best results: 2014 Pan American Open Argentina - Silver 2010 European Championships Vienna – 7th 2013 Grand Prix Rijeka – Gold

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CAROLINE KINNANE GEMMA GIBBONS HOMETOWN: WINSLOW HOMETOWN: CHARLTON CLUB: RENRUKAN CLUB: METRO/EDINBURGH CATEGORY: -78KG CATEGORY -78KG Caroline gained gold and silver at Pan Olympic silver medallist Gemma American Open in Montevideo and Gibbons stunned the world when she Buenos Aires and she then cemented won a surprise medal at London 2012, her place in the Commonwealth following in the footsteps of her coach Games by gaining a further gold at the Kate Howey to take British Judo’s first European Cup in Sarajevo. This year medal in 12 years. Gibbons, originally she has won the English Senior Open a -70kg judoka, moved to the -78kg in Sheffield off the back of a silver fold in 2012 where she flourished to medal in the British Championships victory at the British Open in 2012. in Sheffield and winning the Northern She went on to win gold at the Ireland Open in Belfast. In 2012 Dusseldorf Grand Prix and later took she took gold in the Commonwealth bronze at the IJF Moscow Grand Slam Championships open weight and silver in the -78kg category. and the Grand Prix in Rijeka, before returning from injury at the Northern Ireland Open to take gold in May. Originally from Metro, Gemma now “This is the first time I will be competing in a Commonwealth Games and it trains with husband Euan Burton in Ratho. She said. “I am really excited will be an amazing experience,” she said. to about the Commonwealth Games and looking forward to representing Best results England while my husband represents Scotland.” 2013 British Championships Sheffield - Silver Best Results 2014 Pan American Open - Gold 2012 London 2012 Olympic Games - Silver 2013 Grand Prix Dusseldorf - Gold AUTOGRAPH AUTOGRAPH

JODIE MYERS ASHLEY MCKENZIE HOMETOWN: WIRRALL HOMETOWN: QUEENS PARK CLUB: CENTRE OF CLUB: CAMBERLEY EXCELLENCE/S.K.K CATEGORY: -60KG CATEGORY: +78KG 2013 European bronze medallist Won a gold medal at the British Judo McKenzie is one of the most explosive and talented young judoka in the sport. Championships followed by three The London judoka is capable of bronze medals at EJU U21 Cups, beating anyone on his day and holds taking silver and bronze at senior cups victories over Olympic silver medallist too. Her biggest competition to date and seven-time European medallist was the Junior World Championships Ludwig Paischer of Austria as well as where she beat Junior European former world and European champion Champion Aleksandra Babintceva Georgii Zantaraia from Ukraine. In of Russia by a yuko, to progress to 2014 he took gold in the Argentina the next round but lost by two yukos Pan-American Open, and gained a fifth to Ivana Sutalo of Croatia in the second round of the +78kg women’s place in the European Championships. His first 2014 Grand Prix medal in category despite a strong performance throughout. Havana was also bronze. “It’s very exciting. This time last year I didn’t think I would be going to the “I’m really looking forward to the Commonwealth Games as like the Commonwealths but then I got a few medals this year and it is a great Olympics they will again be on home soil so I’m sure the atmosphere in surprise. I am going to do everything I can to win a medal.” the arena will be amazing” he said. Best Results Best Results 2013 EJU European Cup (U21) Paks - Bronze 2013 European Championship - Bronze 2010 u23 European Championships - Gold AUTOGRAPH AUTOGRAPH

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JAN GOSIEWSKI OWEN LIVESEY HOMETOWN: HOUNSLOW HOMETOWN: ST HELENS CLUB: TEAM BATH CLUB: CAMBERLEY CATEGORY: -73KG CATEGORY -81KG Born in England but brought up in This British Champion originally Poland, Jan is studying towards a PhD trained at S.K.K Judo club with in Orthopaedic Biomechanics as well his sister Bekky, who is also a GB as being a member of Team Bath and player and now he is a full time judo the Great Britain squad. His aim is to athlete at Camberley Judo Club. reach his full potential as an elite judo Winning the British Championships player and to compete and win medals for the first time was one of his most at the 2016 Olympics. He secured memorable moments as was taking the biggest result of his career when his first European cup medal. His he won silver at the Tallinn European best results to date are winning the Open. He has just returned from injury. British Championships and taking two “I am thrilled to be selected. I’ve loved the buzz of big international Continental Open medals on the Pan sporting events I have attended so far but I am looking forward to this one American Tour, silver in Uruguay and silver in Argentina. in particular for the rivalry between the home nations.” Owen has two sisters; Bekky and Amy and he loves seeing how well they Best Results are both doing. 2013 European Open Tallinn - Silver Best Results 2013, 2012 British Senior Championships - Gold 2014 Argentina Pan-American Open - Silver 2014 Uruguay Pan-American Open - Silver

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TOM REED GARY HALL HOMETOWN: DEVIZES HOMETOWN: BRISTOL CLUB: TEAM BATH CLUB: RYU GENKI CATEGORY: -81KG CATEGORY: -90KG The Devizes judoka followed in his Gary Hall is an explosive judoka in the uncle’s footsteps as a GB player -90kg category. Following his recent and has not looked back since. He silver success at the Pan American possesses an explosive arsenal Open in Buenos Aires, he was selected of throws that make him a crowd for the European Championships favourite. He claimed silver in the team event. Hall is the Senior British British Championships and won the IJF Championships silver medallist also Miami Grand Prix as well as achieving won the senior European Cup in seventh in Rijeka. Malaga last November too. “The Manchester Games in 2002 were “It’s nice to have a strong team where one of the first major competitions I we all train hard together. Things are engaged with, watched and was inspired by, so the Games in Glasgow starting to feel so real as we get closer to the Games,” he said. will be very special to me” he said. Best results: Best Results 2014 Pan American Open Beunos Aires - Silver 2010 Sweden European Cup - Gold 2013 Senior British Championships (GB Trials) - Silver 2010 Austria World Cup - Silver

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BEN FLETCHER HOMETOWN: WOKINGHAM CLUB: BATH CATEGORY -100KG 2011 Junior World bronze medallist Ben Fletcher, the younger brother of fellow British international Megan Fletcher, made the transition from -90kg to -100kg as he stepped up to senior level last March. He started 2013 in good form by taking silver in the British Championships in Sheffield and took gold in the Pan American Open in Montevideo earlier this year and bronze at the same level of tournament in Buenos Aires the same week. His first senior European Cup medal, a well-deserved bronze, came in March 2012 in Bosnia. Prior to this he enjoyed a reputation as a fast-rising athlete in the -90kg category straight off the Pinewood production line. Best Results 2013 Senior British Closed - Silver 2013 British Senior Championships - Gold

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FIND YOUR NEAREST CLUB ONLINE AT BRITISHJUDO.ORG.UK\CLUBFIND 7 PLAYER PROFILES Team Scotland

Team Leader: Graeme Randall Coaches: David Somerville and Billy Cusack

EUAN BURTON HOMETOWN: ASCOT/EDINBURGH CLUB: EDINBURGH CATEGORY: -100KG Euan Burton represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics in the Half-Middleweight (under 81kg) Judo event. He is a two time world bronze medallist and made sporting history when he became the first non-Asian middleweight to win the Tokyo Grand Slam in 2009. Post London 2012 Euan decided to concentrate his efforts as a performance coach for Judo in Scotland but has recently returned to competition alongside coaching, moving up two weights to fight in the -100kg category and winning gold at this weight in Belgrade and Glasgow in 2013. He hopes to build on his success at various European Cups this year by winning gold at Glasgow 2014, which will be the final competition of a phenomenal career. Best results Double Team GB Olympic judo athlete. European & World - Bronze 2013, 2012 British Senior Championships - Gold 8 MEMBER’S GUIDE TO COMMONWEALTH JUDO PLAYER PROFILES

KIMBERLEY RENICKS LOUISE RENICKS HOMETOWN: HOMETOWN: BELLSHILL/COATBRIDGE COATBRIDGE/SCOTLAND CLUB: CLUB: KANOKWAI/PRO KANOKWAI/EDINBURGH JUDO CLUB CATEGORY: -52KG CATEGORY: -52KG Kimberley Renicks is one of the leading Louise won Continental Opens in competitors in the -48kg category and Argentina and Uruguay and also took underlined her ability by winning bronze seventh place in the Azerbaijain Grand in the Pan American Open in San Prix of 2013. She said: “2014 is a Salvador this year. Other major results special year for Scotland as my home included her November 2013 Oceania town is hosting the Commonwealth Open (Apia) gold medal and silver at Games. Judo happens to be on the British Closed in May. Renicks the first day and I will be competing rose to acclaim by winning the 2009 alongside my sister. I know Scotland GB World Cup at the age of 21 and has been a fixture on the elite world fans well and they will be loud, supportive. This will be one of a kind and a circuit for six years. memory that will last for ever. She said: “It feels great to fight with my sister we are training partners Best Results and push each other to do our best. It’s a great feeling to have a sister 2013 IJF Grand Prix Abu Dhabi - 5th experiencing the same things as yourself.” 2013 Oceana Open - Gold Best Results 2013 Pan American Open Buenos Aires - Silver 2013 Oceania Open (Apia) - Gold AUTOGRAPH AUTOGRAPH

SARAH CLARK STEPHANIE INGLIS HOMETOWN: SOUTH SHIELDS HOMETOWN: CLUB: EDINBURGH CLUB INVERNESS/EDINBURGH CATEGORY: -57KG CLUB: HIGHLAND BUDOKAN Three times Olympian (2004, 2008, CATEGORY: -57KG 2012) Sarah Clark is one of British Stephanie lives in Dunfermline and Judo’s most recognisable judoka. She trains with the Scottish National has three European medals including Team at Ratho. She is dedicated and the coveted continental title in 2006. focused and hopes that the hard work “The Commonwealths will be a and dedication pays off this summer fantastic opportunity for British athletes at the Games. She also coaches and to compete for their home nation in is an athlete mentor for Champions front of a ‘home crowd’. There will be in School, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust a phenomenal atmosphere and great and Game On Scotland which involves support for everyone,” she said. giving talks and taster judo sessions to school pupils of all ages. “Competing in front of family, friends, club members and children that I’ve been coaching, will be something special. My aim, as always, will be She said: “I am lucky enough to be living out my dream, full time training to try my best to win the title, for me, for judo and for sport in GB and and working towards winning the Commonwealth Games.” Scotland.” Best results Best Results 2013 Samoa World Cup - Silver 2006 European Championship - Gold 2013 Mauritius World Cup - Bronze 2009 European Championship - Silver

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CONNIE RAMSAY SALLY CONWAY HOMETOWN: TAIN/INVER- HOMETOWN: THORNBURY NESS/EDINBURGH CLUB: RATHO EDINBURGH CLUB: CATEGORY: -70KG EDINBURGH JUDO CLUB Sally Conway is one of Scotland’s CATEGORY: -57KG most tenacious and physical judoka and a strong medal hopeful. She Connie Ramsay has become a key has shown the world she’s one of member of Judo Scotland’s National the strongest fighters in the -70kg Training Centre as a model of consist- category. In 2013/14 to date she ency on the mat. has gathered five Grand Prix events The 2012 British Senior Closed with gold in the IJF Samsun Grand champion followed her brother into the Prix (2013), silver in Dusseldorf and sport and believes judo has made her a bronzes in Abu Dhabi, Jeju and Baku. stronger and more determined person. She also took fifth-place finishes at She has performed consistently after the IJF Grand Slam’s in Moscow and winning the Pan American Open in Argentina in the -57kg category. Paris. She placed fifth in the 2009 World Championships and also has “I feel really excited to be in front of my home crowd at the highest level of results such as Olympic Test Event silver in 2011. tournament I have competed.” She said: “I feel excited about representing Scotland in the Best results Commonwealth Games. I’m preparing to perform to my best ability.” 2013 Pan American Open Argentina - Gold Best results 2013 World Cup Rome - Bronze 2014 Grand Slam Baku - Silver 2013 Grand Prix Samson - Gold AUTOGRAPH AUTOGRAPH

SARAH ADLINGTON JOHN BUCHANAN HOMETOWN: HOMETOWN: SHREWSBURY/EDINBURGH EDINBURGH/BROXBURN CLUB: EDINBURGH CLUB: SPORTIF CATEGORY: +78KG CATEGORY: -60KG Sarah Adlington, a two-time u23 John is one of only three Scotsmen to European Championship bronze win a World medal and was selected medallist, is making a name for herself as British Judo Team Captain for the in the heavyweight category as she’s a Sydney Olympic Games 2000. He constant medal threat in competitions recently returned to the competitive all over the world. The Judo Scotland side of the sport following a decade in athlete has a bronze and multiple fifth- coaching and has medalled at several place finishes in star-studded Grand recent European Cups. Last year, at Prix and Grand Slam events and is the age of 37, Buchanan returned to well-placed to push for further honours. action in Sweden to fight for Great Britain. He competed last at the Games in Manchester where his wife Best results Clare won silver at -48kg under her maiden name of Lynch. 2013 Moscow Grand Slam - Bronze 2013 Rijeka and Moscow - 5th Best results: 2001 World Championships - Bronze 2013 Sweden European Cup - Bronze

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ANDREW BURNS MATTHEW PURSSEY HOMETOWN: HOMETOWN: CHERTSEY GLASGOW/EDINBURGH CLUB: RATHO EDINBURGH CLUB: EDINBURGH CATEGORY: 90KG CATEGORY -90KG Matthew Purssey, a seven times Andrew Burns took bronze in Sofia British Champion can also lay claim to and the same colour medal in the Pan a host of World Cup podium positions American Open. A former member of as well as a standout bronze in the Team Bath for over 10 years where he 2011 London Olympic test event. studied for a BA in Coach Education 2013 saw the Judoka take bronze in at the University, Burns moved back the Pan American Opens of Buenos Scotland where he was born to train Aires and in San Salvador along with at Ratho. He is now studying an MSc a fifth in Miami at the IJF Grand Prix. in strength and conditioning. He is a The year began on a high with him Judospace advisor. winning the British Championships in Sheffield. He said: “I was born in Glasgow and lived there until I was 10, all my family still live here, so it feels right to fight for Scotland. Having my family “It is a huge motivator to have your friends and family watching you at and my fiancée’ supporting me will be amazing. I really can’t wait.” the Games. Physically and mentally I already feel in the best shape of my career, so I expect to deliver the best performance I have ever been Best Results: capable of.” 2012 World Cup Belarus - Gold 2007 (-23) European Championships - Bronze Best results 2014 Pan American Open Montevideo - Bronze 2013 European Open - Bronze AUTOGRAPH AUTOGRAPH

CHRIS SHERRINGTON HOMETOWN: BROXBURN CLUB: COMMANDOKWAI CATEGORY: +100KG Olympian Royal Marine Commando Chris Sherrington moved to Scotland nine years ago on a full time Royal Navy sports draft to take advantage of the judo training. He has taken medals all over the world including the Samoa World Cup Gold, Turkey Grand Prix Bronze, British Open Gold through his incredible judo career. During the London 2012 Olympics, he defeated his first opponent in a mere 24 seconds and continued to the next round, taking the fight to one of Russia’s best ever heavyweight judo players. Despite losing that fight in Golden Score to the lowest score point available, Olympics judo commentators said Sherrington had “the most impressive Olympics debut performance you could ever talk about.” Best results 2014 Turkey Grand Prix - Bronze 2014 Havana Grand Prix -Silver

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Team Leader: Darren Dean Coach: Darren Warner and Craig Ewers

JADE LEWIS HOMETOWN: SWANSEA CLUB: GENDROS CATEGORY: -52KG Jade Lewis has had a fantastic year, which has seen her gain experience at the Junior Worlds and the Junior European Championships. She has several U21 European Cups under her belt and recently won silver at the Senior European Cup in Malaga. “The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be a great experience for me at a young age,” she said. “I’m really excited to compete at my first Commonwealth Games. It’s a great opportunity to be able to represent Wales in a major multi-sport event. I’m looking forward to competing against some of the best judoka in the world and hopefully coming home with a medal.” Best results 2014 Junior European Cup, Greece - Gold 2013 Senior European Cup, Malaga - Silver 2013, 2012 British Senior Championships - Gold 12 MEMBER’S GUIDE TO COMMONWEALTH JUDO PLAYER PROFILES

KIRSTY POWELL KYLE DAVIES HOMETOWN: BEULAH HOMETOWN: CLUB: WJA PONTARDDULAIS CATEGORY: -57KG CLUB: WJA (CARDIFF) Twenty year old Kirsty is the younger CATEGORY -66KG sibling of Natalie and has been doing Former GB squad member Kyle judo since the age of six following in Davies has been a consistent feature her sister’s footsteps. Outside of judo in the GB domestic ranking events she has also enjoyed playing netball throughout his career and will look for her county. to use that experience to step up “It’s an amazing feeling to represent to a medal winning performance in my country in the Commonwealth Glasgow at what will be his first major Games,” she said. Games experience. “I have always wanted to go since Best result: I was a young girl! It’s even better 2014 Northern Ireland Open - Gold that my sister is going as well. I’ve been training full time for two years now. I train three times a day and then usually have a competition on the weekend.” Best results: 2013 European Cup Spain - Silver 2013 European Cup Estonia - Bronze

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CONNOR IRELAND CURTIS DODGE HOMETOWN: PORT TALBOT HOMETOWN: SWANSEA CLUB: MAESTAG CATEGORY:-73KG CATEGORY: -73KG The current Commonwealth Tourna- Connor has been a consistent ment winner from 2012 in his native performer at the European Cup u21 Cardiff will start as a medal chance in level across the last three seasons; what will no doubt be a competitive winning a number of medals at the men’s lightweight middleweight division 66kg category before stepping up to in Glasgow. He took a bronze at last the 73kg class in 2014 and following December’s British Championships in in similar vein. An exciting thrower; Sheffield, following up with a gold at Ireland will be one to watch in Glasgow the English Senior Open and a bronze as he looks to upset the more at the Irish Senior Open in Belfast. On experienced players within the 73kg the international stage he finished a division. solid seventh at the European Cup in Sarejevo. Best results 2012 (u21) European Cup Spain - Silver Best results: 2013 (u21) European Cup Estonia - Silver 2014 London Senior Open - Gold.

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MARK SHAW NATALIE POWELL HOMETOWN: NEWPORT HOMETOWN: BLUITH WELLS CLUB: ROYAL NAVY CLUB: WELSH JUDO CATEGORY: +100KG ACADEMY (CARDIFF) AND Heavyweight Mark Shaw has been IRFON JUDO CLUB afforded a twelve month secondment CATEGORY: -78KG by the Royal Navy to train full time in pursue his goal of becoming a Welsh star Natalie Powell fights in the Commonwealth Games medallist. He same class as Olympic silver medallist has been based at the British Judo and home rival Gemma Gibbons. Centre of Excellence in Walsall and The pair may well find themselves on making use of the top class facilities different teams fighting each other at and support. the Commonwealths, but both hope to secure the GBR spot for the 2016 “At the age of 35, I’m now approaching Olympic Games. Outside the dojo the end of my competitive judo career Natalie studies Biomedical Science at and competing for Wales at the Commonwealth Games is the perfect Cardiff University. swansong.” “I’m really excited for the Commonwealth Games. To have the chance to Best results fight for Wales and hear the Welsh national anthem playing would be a 2013 European Cup Bratislava - 5th dream come true” Best results 2014 Grand Prix Samsun - Silver 2012 and 2013 Grand Prix Abu Dhabi - Silver

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JAMIE MACDONALD CRAIG EWERS HOMETOWN: MAESTAG HOMETOWN: NEWPORT CLUB: WELSH JUDO CLUB: WELSH JUDO ACADEMY (CARDIFF) ACADEMY (CARDIFF) CATEGORY: -66KG CATEGORY: -81KG Team Wales second representative in National coach Craig Ewers will the 66kg category; Jamie MacDon- compete in judo for Wales at the ald will look to carry the good form 2014 Commonwealth Games in demonstrated throughout the qualifica- Glasgow. Ewers competed at the 2002 tion period into Glasgow in his pursuit Manchester Commonwealth Games of a medal. When not training and for Wales - the last time Judo was competing in Judo; Jamie is studying included in the programme. for a Computer Science degree at “We have selected a squad which Cardiff University. has a blend of youth and experience; Best results but each athlete has the potential 2013 Northern Ireland Open Belfast - Silver to perform and medal at Glasgow and we go into the Games with 2013 British University Championships - Bronze confidence.” Best result: 2006 Commonwealth Championships Derry - Gold 2004 Commonwealth Championships Waitakere City - Gold

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RUSLAN RANCEV HOMETOWN: LITHUANIA CLUB: WJA CATEGORY-100KG Originally from Lithuania; Ruslan Rancev has made North Wales his adopted homeland; and will look to upset the other strong home country representatives in his pursuit of a Commonwealth Games medal. He took silver at the Welsh Senior Open in 2011 and qualified to fight at the Commonwealth Games in Wales by winning the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast and gaining bronzes at the English Senior Open in Sheffield, Scottish Open Championships in Meadowbank and the Welsh Senior Open in Cardiff. Best result: 2014 Northern Ireland Open Belfast - Gold 2011 Welsh Senior - Silver

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FIND YOUR NEAREST CLUB ONLINE AT BRITISHJUDO.ORG.UK\CLUBFIND 15 PLAYER PROFILES Team Northern Ireland

Team Leader: Ciaran Ward Coach: Scott Mayne

LISA KEARNEY HOMETOWN: BELFAST CLUB: EDINBURGH CLUB CATEGORY: -52KG Lisa is Ireland’s most successful Judoka with 10 Senior World Cup medals. After becoming the first Irish female to qualify for an Olympic Games, in London, Lisa moved up a weight category to -52kg and went on to win a further two gold and one silver medal at Continental Opens. A former Commonwealth Tournament Champion in Derry when she was just 16 years old, this will be Lisa’s first Commonwealth Games. Lisa started judo at the age of eight and since 2008 has been training full time in Edinburgh with Judo Scotland but representing Northern Ireland on the world circuit. Lisa combines qualifying for Rio with being a student and sports scholar at Heriot-Watt university, studying psychology. Her interests outside of training include listening to music and seeing friends. Best results: 2014 IJF Grand Prix Havana - 7th 2014 Grand Slam Baku - 7th 2013, 2012 British Senior Championships - Gold

16 MEMBER’S GUIDE TO COMMONWEALTH JUDO PLAYER PROFILES

KIRSTY KEE CAOIMHIN THOMPSON HOMETOWN: BELFAST HOMETOWN: BELFAST CLUB: MURAKWAI CLUB: YAMAKWAI CATEGORY: -63KG CATEGORY-73KG Kirsty is a former junior silver medallist Thompson was a successful at the British National Championships, international ‘Age Band’ competitor and has also won junior and senior in his youth and returned to serious gold medals at the Northern Ireland training with a view to competing Open. She has mainly competed in Glasgow 2014. During the within the UK and Ireland but qualification period he picked up a recently won a bronze medal at the Continental Open silver medal and two Venray International in Holland. further Continental Open 7th places. Kirsty studies Medicine at Queen’s Caoimhin is the current Irish number University Belfast. one. Best results Best results 2014 International Tournament Venray Seniors - Bronze 2013 African Open Port Louis - Silver 2009 British U20 Championships Sheffield - Silver 2013 Irish Open Dublin - Gold

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EOIN FLEMING MARK MONTGOMERY HOMETOWN: BELFAST HOMETOWN: AGHALEE CATEGORY:-81KG CLUB: ABBEY Eoin Fleming became Ireland’s young- CATEGORY: -100KG est ever Continental Open medallist At the age of 40, this is the last winning Bronze in Port Louis last opportunity for Mark Montgomery year aged just 18 years. The Queens to represent his country at the University Belfast Accountancy student Commonwealth Games. His route is the youngest member of the NI to the Games was gaining a bronze Commonwealth Judo Team and the medal in the Northern Ireland Open current Irish Junior number one. Belfast, silver at the Irish Open Dublin, “To prepare for the Games this summer bronze at the London Senior Open and I will be going to a few training camps another bronze at the Northern Ireland around Europe to get ready and be at Open Belfast, all in 2013. my best come 25 July. I will be fighting Best results in a few more senior world cups to get more experience fighting on the 2013 Irish Open Dublin - Silver top level, as well as competing in junior European cups as I try to qualify 2013 Northern Ireland Open Belfast - Bronze also for the junior Europeans and Worlds later in the year.” Best result: 2013 European Cup Mauritius - Bronze

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GAVIN MCNEILL HOME TOWN: EDINBURGH CLUB: THE EDINBURGH CLUB CATEGORY: +100KG Full time police officer Gavin McNeill is eagerly anticipating competing in his first Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Gavin fits in training around his shift work at the Edinburgh Club and Ratho. His results during the qualification period for Team NI include bronze at the English Open, gold at the Southern area Open, silver at the Irish Open and gold at the Northern Ireland trials (for the fourth year in a row). He represented NI at the Common- wealth Judo Championships in 2012 but missed out on a medal coming fifth. Best results 2012 Commonwealth Judo Championships - 5th 2011 – 2014 Northern Ireland - Gold

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18 MEMBER’S GUIDE TO COMMONWEALTH JUDO PLAYER PROFILES Team Guernsey

LOUIS PLEVIN HOMETOWN: CHANNEL ISLANDS CLUB: GUERNSEY JUDO CLUB CATEGORY: -90 KG Louis Plevin will be the first person from the Channel Islands to compete in the sport of judo at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. In order to qualify he had to compete at Senior level in the Welsh Open, the English Open, the London Open as well as a number of Southern Area Point Scoring events. Louis gained his 1st Dan in September 2013 at the tender age of 16 and currently stands 5th in the BJA Cadet Ranking. During the qualifying period he earned 40 points toward his 2nd Dan (10 of which were against a 2nd Dan). He hopes that the experience gained by competing in Glasgow will be the springboard he needs to achieve his 2nd Dan before his 18th birthday. He is Grade B in both Piano and Viola. He said: “I feel very happy and excited about representing The Channel Islands at the Commonwealth Games, and feel honoured to be the first person from my country to represent judo. This will be one of the biggest days of my life.” Best Results 2012 Medal Commonwealth Judo Association Cadets - Bronze 2013 Medal BJA Southern Area Cadet Ranking event - Silver

FIND YOUR NEAREST CLUB ONLINE AT BRITISHJUDO.ORG.UK\CLUBFIND 19 A GUIDE TO Referee signals

YUKO WAZA-ARI Player lands on Player lands on their their side. side/part of back. Player is held down for Player is held down 10 - 15 seconds. for 15 - 19 seconds.

IPPON WAZA-ARI-AWESETE If a player taps out. IPPON Player is held down If a player gets two for 20 seconds. Waza – ari this equals If a player is thrown with an Ippon. force and speed and lands on their back.

MATTE SHIDO (Stop) (Penalty) Only 4 shidos allowed per player then they lose the fight. The same signal is used for Hansoku-Make (disqualification). SHIDO OSAE-KOMI (Non-combatively) (Hold is on) If a player is making Up to 10 secs = yuko no attempt to fight. Up to 15 secs = wazari. 20 secs = Ippon is awarded.

TOKETA NON-VALIDITY (Hold Broken) (To cancel an expressed opinion of the referee)

Design by 21.12, copy compiled by Donna Richardson. Photos OnEdition, Capture that Event Gabrielle Delauney.