Judo: Capital judo stars to step up Olympic bid in Amsterdam

Edinburgh Judo Club have a large squad in Amsterdam for the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend as they step up their bids for Olympic qualification.

Those competing are Sally Conway, Sarah Adlington, Euan Burton, James Millar, Matthew Purssey, James Austin and Lisa Kearney at a time when Sarah Clark is continuing her comeback from injury, with plans to return to the mat in January.

The Visual Impaired (VI) European Championships are also taking place this weekend in London, featuring Edinburgh Club player Sam Ingram.

A current Paralympic silver medallist, Ingram will be in the -90 category and looking to compete on home soil next year as a European champion for the first time.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s Jodie Mullen is in the form of her life as she goes for gold at this weekend’s European Under-23 Judo Championships in Russia.

The former Penicuik High School pupil celebrated her 20th birthday with arguably the best result of her career when she claimed a bronze medal at last week’s European Cup in Malaga.

Ratho-based Mullen is the lone Scot in the British squad in Tyumen and was set to compete today in the 63kg class as she continues to follow in the footsteps of her dad, Eddie, who was ninth at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.