Judo: Olympic blow for Euan Burton

Edinburgh’s Euan Burton suffered a major pre-Olympic blow after losing his opening 81kg bout at the European Judo Championships in Chelyabinsk, Siberia yesterday.

The former world medallist was bidding for his fourth European medal but failed to get past Germany’s Alex Wieczerzak in their Pool C encounter. The world number 12 now has little hope of securing a favourable top eight seeding for the Olympics.

Club-mate Sally Conway fared better in the 70kg class, winning her first two bouts against Russia’s Olga Pochkina and Spain’s Cecilia Blanco before losing the Pool D final to Pole Katarzyna Klys. Two repechage victories would have given Conway a bronze medal but she lost out to Holland’s Linda Bolder.