Dutch judoka strong at second day of European Cup Saarbrucken

After four medal events Germany shines on top of the medal tally of the European Cup in Saarbrucken. The Netherlands was the winner of the second day with four gold medals, three for the men, one for Larissa Groenewold the 2015 European Junior Champion. She defeated Italian Melora Rosetta (ITA) in the final. Kubra Kara of Turkey won the gold for women +78. A small field of four women where Marine Erb (FRA) took bronze and Dutch Martine Demkes bronze.

Ebony Drysdale-Daley won gold for women U70kg. The Briton was too strong in the final for Clementine Louchez of France. Drysdale-Daley, a former vice World Junior Champion, won all her four fights in a field of 19 women.

A group of 45 men were gathered in Saarbrucken to battle U81kg. The glorious winner was Dutchman Jim Heijman who won five fights including three against two against his countrymen and two against German opponents. On Saturday Germany defeated the Netherlands in two finals, on Sunday the score was 3-0 for the Netherlands in finals against their neighbours. Heijman started the golden race against the German and defeated Joris Kuger by ippon after just a minute.

Dutchman Dax Biesbrouck was the second to win a battle against German Dario Kurbjeweit-Garcia U90kg. This year at the European Open in Sofia Biesbrouck also defeated Kurbjeweit-Garcia who lost his third European Cup final. Biesbrouck booked his first victory at this level. Max Stewart (GBR) who lost to Biesbrouck in the second round, came back strongly in the repechage and won bronze  together with Dutchman Bas van Empelen.

World Cadet Champion Simeon was the third Dutchman to defeat a German athlete, in the final U100kg. The 18-year old talent booked his first victory in a European Cup for Seniors after two bronze medals in Uster and Celje this year. He is the next level U100kg for Holland and will battle with Michael Korrel for the places at European and World Championships where both men could be qualified for to get used to the world level. In today’s final the youngster overcame Daniel Herbst by ippon about halfway the match. Catharina was the youngest medallist of the weekend.

The heavyweight title was for the experienced Dino Pfeiffer who just turned 29 being the oldest winner, even the oldest medallist. His first victory at a European Cup in Germany and fourth in total. In July he also won in Bratislava. The quadruple German champion saw Mircea Croitoru of Romania as opponent in the final but won by ippon after four minutes.

Saarbrucken was the seventh European Cup this season, next time the field will go to Tampere in Finland.