French lead the dance at British Open in London

France topped the final medal table of the European Cup in London with a total of 19 medals, including four golds. Great Britain were second with The Netherlands third. Over 300 judoka were in action at K2, Crawley, with 29 countries represented in the two-day long event.

The Fletcher family enjoyed a successful day as brother and sister Ben and Megan won medals at the London British Open European Cup, whilst Andy Burns also claimed gold for Great Britain.

Ben Fletcher won the gold medal in the U100kg weight category. In the final, the Bath judoka held down Dutch athlete Tobias Mol for ippon to seal the win. Portugal’s Jorge Fonseca and Clement Delvert of France won bronze.

His sister Megan held down Audrey Fels to win bronze in the U70kg category. The gold medal went to Sanne Lisa Van Dijke of the Netherlands who beat France’s Valeriane Fichot in the final. Lucie Perrot of France took the other bronze.

Andy Burns started the Great Britain charge in style with a powerful display in the U90kg category, winning by ippon after being a yuko up against Netherlands athlete Michel Verhagen. He earlier beat Gary Hall in the semi-final. There was an all-GB bronze medal contest, where Hall got the better of Frazer Chamberlain, throwing him for ippon to take the medal. Pierre David of France won the remaining bronze.

In the U81kg category Owen Livesey won a bronze medal for Great Britain. The Camberley athlete beat Centre of Excellence athlete Max Stewart earlier in the competition and was victorious over Jeremie Bottieau of Belgium for bronze. In the other bronze medal contest, Tom Reed placed fifth after losing to David Miccoli of the Netherlands. Gold went to Dutchman Neal Van De Kamer with Dimitri Gomes Tavares of France getting silver.

Royal Marine Chris Sherrington was in the medals in the O100kg category. He bounced back from an early defeat to claim bronze. Alessio Mascheti of Italy won the gold with a victory over Iceland’s Thormodur Jonsson, whilst the Netherland’s Pascal Scherrenberg won the other bronze.

In the women’s heavyweights (O78kg) Ketty Mathe of France pulled out a big ippon throw to beat Dutch athlete Martine Demkes in the final. Kirsty Rodgers could only get fifth for GB as she lost out to Janine Penders of the Nethlands in the bronze medal contest. Poland’s Joanna Jaworska won the remaining bronze.

Geraldine Mentouopou celebrated a gold medal in an all-French final in the U78kg category. Christelle Garry took the silver with Karen Stevenson of the Netherlands and France’s Marie Del Puppo getting the bronze.

Looking back at the event, British Judo Chairman Kerrith Brown said: “Yet again we’sve enjoyed a great two days here at the London British Open.

“I’d like to congratulate all of the medallists and it was pleasing to see many British athletes standing on the medal rostrum.

“I would like to thank all of the spectators, volunteers, staff, officials, competitors and friends at the EJU for making this a great event and we’sre already looking forward to next year with bigger and better things to come.”