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Wesley Greenidge becomes Three-Time British Heavyweight Champion

Wesley Greenidge becomes Three-Time British Heavyweight Champion

18 Dec 2024 16:35
JudoInside.com - Hans van Essen / judo news, results and photos

The British Judo Championships took place over the weekend of December 14-15, with Wesley Greenidge amongst the gold medal winners. The heavyweight, who won the British title in both 2021 and 2022, made up for missing out on gold in 2023 by prevailing in the heavyweight category once more.

And Greenidge was joined in the winners’ circle by Enfield JC clubmate Rhys Thompson, who added another British title of his own in the half-heavyweight division.

Domestic Delight
Greenidge was a strong favourite heading into the championships given his national pedigree, but favourites don’t always take care of business.
On the same weekend as the British Judo Championships, the UFC Tampa card saw a host of betting favourites lose… including Billy Quarantillo, who was downed by Cub Swanson in the third round of their encounter.
A bet calculator confirms that a £10 wager on Quarantillo would have returned just £17, so it’s clear to see how vulnerable the favourites can be in combat sports.
But there were no such issues for Greenidge, who very much lived up to the billing in Warwick. He scored a bye into the quarter finals, where he defeated Sidney Plocoste, before a more comfortable victory in the semi-finals set up yet another final appearance.
And the 26-year-old would not be denied, winning his third British Championship title to cement his status as the best heavyweight in the land.
Medals of Honour
Greenidge’s clubmate in Enfield, Rhys Thompson, confirmed his expertise at the -100kg once again.
He overcame three high-class opponents to claim his fourth British Championship gold, which will take pride of place alongside his bronze from the Commonwealth Games of 2022.
Another judoka celebrating a fantastic fourth gold medal at the British Championships was Jamal Petgrave, who prevailed in the 90kg category.
The former Commonwealth gold medallist showcased all those fighting qualities in a classy division, which saw the incredible veteran – Vladimir Oleinic – land the bronze medal at the sprightly age of 41!
Michael Fryer and Neil MacDonald renewed acquaintances in the half-lightweight division. The duo, who had each won the gold medal at the British Championships in 2022 and 2023 respectively, battled through to yet another final.
And this time, it would be Fryer who would recapture the title from his British Judo squad mate.

In the women’s competition, the remarkable career of Sarah Adlington continues to hit new heights. The 38-year-old, a former Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Olympian, added an incredible eighth British title to her collection, making her one of the competition’s most decorated judoka in history.
Emma Reid reasserted her dominance of the -78kg division, landing a fourth British title. She defeated another multiple-time champion, Shelley Ludford, in the final.
After missing out in 2022 and 2023, Kelly Petersen Pollard was back to winning ways at -70kg to clinch her fourth British title. Lucy Renshall, meanwhile, added a fifth British Championship gold to her remarkable tally; the former Olympian proving just too strong at -63kg.
All told, it was another fantastic edition of the British Judo Championships, with the winners hoping to kick on and perform on the European and world stage in 2025.