Following the GB and U23 GB team announcements for their respective European Championships next month, we caught up with Scottish judoka Stuart McWatt, Ollie Short and Finlay Allan who are preparing to compete on the international stage once more.
Stuart McWatt (-90kg) has been selected for the GB team for the upcoming 2023 European Championships in Montpellier, France, from 3rd – 5th November.
Stuart, who came through at Garioch judo club, secured his spot in the -90kg category with back-to-back medals at the Prague European Open (gold) and Malaga European Cup (bronze).
With the BJA announcing him as part of the final stage selections, Stuart spoke to us ahead of the upcoming championship:
“It’s great to be selected for another European Championship, any time you get to represent GB at a big Championship like this It’s an honour. I moved up to -90kg this year after my latest ACL injury and have been fighting well recently with medals at a European Open and European Cup. I know I can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world and looking forward to proving that in Montpellier.”
Stuart isn’t the only Scottish judoka preparing to represent Team GB on the European stage.
Ollie Short (-73kg) and Finlay Allan (-66kg) will be part of a team of seven judoka competing in Potsdam, Germany, from 17th to 19th November in the U23 European Championships.
Having both achieved bronze success in their respective categories at last weekend’s Malaga European Cup they head to Germany full of confidence.
Finlay, who trains with Camberley Judo Club, will compete in the -66kg category following some excellent European circuit displays. As well as his success in Spain, he won a silver medal at the Gaia European Cup and claimed a bronze at the Podcetrtek European Cup.
Finlay said: “I’m looking forward to competing at this year’s Under 23 European Championships. I have had my best year results-wise so far and I’m hoping to take away a medal at a European Championships for the first time.”
Ollie Short, trains with Edinburgh Judo and will be fighting in the -73kg category. Like Finlay, he has impressed in European competitions, gaining a bronze at the Riga European Cup as well as earning another bronze recently at the Malaga European Cup.
Ollie said: “It’s really great to have the opportunity to compete at such an event – especially in the last year I am eligible to do so. I have been able to improve a lot in the last year with some-top quality training opportunities and guidance. The Under 23 European Championships is an exciting challenge and an opportunity to put in a performance that reflects my training as well as the hard work of those who have supported me.”
The full squad announcements for each team can be found below: