European Judo Union (EJU)
Union Sportive des Polices d’Europe (USPE)
European Police Judo Championships
The European Police Judo Championship held every four years was hosted
for 2015 by the German Police of Saxony in Dresden from Sunday 10 th to
Wednesday 13th May. Nineteen European nations attended and we were all
were treated to two days of exciting and very high quality competitive judo. All
the police officers attending were of a minimum of national standing with
many having competed at european, world and olympic completions.
Accommodated in an excellent hotel the competitors and delegates were
warmly welcomed by the German organisers who had prepared a magnificent
competition.
The Police Sport UK (PSUK) British Police judo team was very experienced
and
included former European Police medallists as well as three
commonwealth medallists and former members of the BJA British squad in
Sian Wilson a British Open Champion and Sam Delahey.
The Team
Men
U60, Gary Cole Dyfed Powys Police, Common Wealth Medallist
U73, Fraser Menzies Police Scotland
U81, Lee Holley Devon and Cornwall Police Masters Commonwealth
Champion
U90, Jason Moore Police Scotland- World Police and Fire Service Champion
U100, Sam Delahay Avon and Somerset Police Silver Commonwealth
Medallist
0/100, Gavin McNeill Police Scotland and Northern Irelands competitor at the
recent Commonwealth Judo Championships
Ladies
U57k, Jo Coull Police Scotland
U63k, Kate Harris West Midlands Police
U70k, Lauren Holley Devon and Cornwall police previous Police European
medallist
078, Sian Wilson Wiltshire Police, former British Team and British Open
Champion
GB Police Delegation
Andy Moss Head of delegation 5th Dan
National Coaches
Chris Hunt 7th Dan
Matt Clempner 7th Dan
Darren Dean 6th Dan
The event was run under the control and supervision of the EJU, and as
reported the standard of completion was very high
The categories and results
U60k- no stranger to competing at this level Gary stormed through all his
contests throwing for ippon on each occasion, his German, French and
Bulgarian opponents all experienced competitors had no answer to Gary’s
variety of tachi waza and despite having to have a cut head heavily bandaged
Gary made the European title his with a display of great attacking judo. Great
Britain’s first male European Police Champion in an event that has been
running for over 50 years, a fantastic result.
U73k – In his first Police Europeans Fraser Menzies fought his way to the
bronze medal fight and was very unlucky not to take that medal finishing with
a very respectable fifth place.
U81k- Lee Holley fighting in his third Police Europeans drew a very strong
French player and was held for ippon after a hard battle for grips; Lee’s
repercharge fight saw him again losing in newaza, having received a shoulder
injury.
U90k – Jason Moore in his fourth european championship started well with a
win before being eliminated but took a very respectful 7th place
U100k – Sam Delahey began his completion against a huge German who
eventually took the silver medal, Sam battled for grips but was thrown for
ippon, in his second fight Sam scored a superb ippon from a well drilled
strangle, before going out of the competition in his next fight, but finishing in
7th place.
0/100k - Gavin McNeill opened his competition against a Belarus losing after
a good start before fighting a German and getting caught on the ground for
ippon.
U57- Jo Coull in her first Police Europeans will have taken much experience
from this event battling against much more experienced players Jo never
gave up becoming stronger in each fight to finish fifth.
U63- Kate Harris a very experienced police international again got stronger as
the competition went on with a good win before finishing in 7 th place, losing to
a very strong Hungarian.
U70 –Kilos, Lauren Holley, after scoring yuko in her first fight was caught for
ippon, battling for grips in her remaining contents Lauren went on to battle
her way to the bronze, adding to the one she won in Russia in 2007.
078 kilos- Sian Wilson was in control of her fights throwing for wazari
particularly with a strong Tia –Toshi, in the final Sian in a moment of lack of
concentration tried an ouch-gari leg grab combination and subsequently
disqualified but taking a very well deserved silver medal.
Great Britain finished fourth out of nineteen nationals a very respectable result
particularly when many of the police players competing from mainland Europe
are full time competitors. A great result from a team who were true
ambassadors to judo and the United Kingdom.