Scottish Open reopens the gates with 14 new winners

The Scottish Open Judo Championships have a long tradition, this edition was held in Largs and saw a spectacular display of Judo talent from all around the world. The Scottish Open was consequently held since the year 2000 but suffered with a gap of two years during the pandemic but was happy to have an event last weekend.

It delivered in 14 new winners, none of them ever won the Scottish Open. It’s a consequence of the pandemic. Over time Donna Robertson is the absolute topscorer with five victories. Michael Horley, Andrew Melbourne and Owen Livesey won four times, a big gap with the current generation.

The competition was fierce though and the results were impressive, with Dylan Munro (GBR) taking home the gold in the U60 category, and Yuga Chinone (JPN) winning gold in the O100 category.

Benjamin Caldwell (GBR) and Kavan Majidi (GBR) fought it out for the gold in the U66 category, with Caldwell coming out on top. In the U73 category, Oliver Short (GBR) and Ethan Nairne (GBR) battled it out for the top spot, with Short taking the gold. In the U81 category, Saiganji Teppei (JPN) and Eric Ham (GBR) fought for the gold, with Teppei coming out on top.

In the U90 category, Steven Vanukevich (IRL) and Joel Hedenblad (SWE) competed for the top spot, with Vanukevich winning gold. Oliver Barratt (GBR) and Jake McKenna (GBR) went head to head for the U100 category, with Barratt coming out on top. He took bronze in 2020 and made the big two steps to gold.

In the women's divisions, Summer Shaw (GBR) and Ashleigh Barnikel (GBR) fought for the gold in the U48 category, with 18 year old Shaw winning first place. Maddy Birri (GBR) and Alona Shchyholeva (UKR) went head to head in the U52 category, with Birri taking the gold as youngest winner at the age of 17. She is in the top 10 of youngest winners ever led by Christi-Rose Pretorius who won gold in 2018 at the age of 14.

In the U57 category, Riho Shibada (JPN) and Josie Steele (GBR) competed for the top spot, with Shibada taking the gold.

Jessie Edwards (GBR) and Katie Mills (GBR) fought for the gold in the U63 category, with Edwards taking first place after taking bronze in 2020. Rachael Hawkes (IRL) and Maya Ribeiro Novais (SWE) battled it out for the U70 category, with Hawkes taking the gold. Gabriela Kuliga (POL) and Rachel Tytler (GBR) competed for the gold in the U78 category, with Kuliga winning first place.

Finally, Sydnee Andrews (NZL) and Laura Tapping (GBR) fought for the top spot in the O78 category, with Andrews taking the gold.