GB Judo Team make their mark at the Virtus Oceania Games
The First GB Judo Team to compete at the Virtus Oceania Asia Games put on an outstanding performance, taking home a total of 13 medals
Taking place from 5 – 11 November, countries sent teams to Brisbane Australia to compete in elite-level competition at the Virtus Oceania Games.
In collaboration with British Judo, SportExcel UK (formerly the UK Sports Association) sent a team of 9. The team was made up by Stanley Walker, Thomas Mawdsley, Joshua Hughes, Joshua Hodkinson, Christopher Murphy, Stuart Jackman, Mikey Lomas, Nikki McDermott, and Skye Westwood.
Some highlights included in the Senior Women (Under 63KG category), Westwood took home gold and McDermott finished with a bronze.
In the Senior Men (Under 73KG category), Hughes took home gold in his debut. Hodges also took gold in the Senior Men (Under 66KG), with Mawdsley taking home silver and Walker taking bronze.
In the Senior Men (Under 90KG), Murphy topped the podium with a gold and in the Senior Men (Over 100KG), Lomas claimed the gold with Jackman claiming silver.
Tracey McCillen, Chief Executive, SportExcel UK (formerly named the UK Sports Association) said
“Thanks go to colleagues at British Judo for their work in getting the Team ready and for working collaboratively with SportExcel UK to make this happen. We hope that this will be the start of growing our representation at Virtus Championships, including the Virtus Global Games in Vichy next year.”
The Virtus Oceania Asia Games 2022 (OA Games 2022) was a multi-sport regional event in the Oceania Asia region for elite athletes with intellectual impairment that was held 5-11 November 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. This year marked the first time that an international Virtus event has been held in the region.
SportExcel UK is the new name for the UK Sports Association. SportExcel UK is the official British member of Virtus. Entries to the Virtus Championships has been made possible through a collaboration between British Judo and SportExcel UK. SportExcel UK is the conduit to Virtus Championships and the organisation responsible for the eligibility and classification system for British athletes across the UK. The GB (Judo) Team comprises athletes from across class II1 and II3.
If you would like more information on the Games, or how to get involved in Judo in the UK, contact SportExcel UK.
If you would like more information on the work of British Judo and specific team members, contact British Judo Communications Manager, Jarryd Dunn.