British judo team announced for Euro 2006 in Tampere

British Judo has announced an experienced team for the 2006 European Championships, which will take place in Tampere, Finland from 26th – 28th May 2006. A European title will be in the sights of Craig Fallon who won the U60kg World title in September last year. The 23-year-old has not competed in a European Championships since he clinched silver in 2003.

Four times European Champion, Karina Bryant will be looking to hold on to her current European +78kg title.

At the 2005 European Championships the heavyweight took gold beating Tea Donguashvili of Russia in the final. However, when the pair met again in the final of the recent 2006 GB World Cup in Birmingham, the medal placing was reversed when Donguashvili stole the gold in the closing seconds of the match. In Tampere the Brit will be looking to prove she still reigns supreme in Europe.

Sarah Clark, 2004 European bronze medallist, will also be a female medal hope in the –63kg after taking bronze at the GB World Cup earlier this month.

Michelle Rogers will appear in her first European Championships since 2001. The 29-year-old Atlanta Olympian appeared at three European Championships between 1996 and 2001 and medalled at all three.

2005 European bronze medallist Euan Burton appears in the –81kg weight category. The 27-year-old Scot rose to the occasion at both the 2004 and 2005 Championships, so there will be hopes that he can do the same again this year in Finland.

Winston Gordon, who placed 5th in the 2004 Athens Olympics, aims to take his first European Championship medal. He recently finished 7th at the 2006 Moscow World Cup and earlier in the season won silver at the Swedish World Cup.

For the second consecutive major Championships former junior European Champion Peter Cousin’s steps up to the –100kg category, from his usual –90kg spot.

Sophie Johnstone (-52kg) and Colin Oates (-66kg) will both make their European Championship debut.

No selections have been made in the –48kg weight category, -57kg weight category, or +100kg.

Commenting Colin McIver, British Judo High Performance Director said, “We have been able to select our number one player in each weight category but they still face the ever strong European competition for medals.

“Europe is no doubt the most difficult continent to qualify from for the Olympics Games, with so many quality players chasing few qualification spots. These Championships will give us an indication of the task ahead as we move towards the qualification events next year on the road to the Beijing Olympics”.