Battling team title among terrific 12 golds for University of Bath students at BUCS Judo Championships 2026
Team Bath Judo won 12 gold medals, including an outstanding men’s team victory, when they contested the 2026 BUCS Judo Championships in Walsall.
Harvey Creasey-Cottle, Ralf Callaway, Yonas Aldous and George Riley rallied superbly following an injury to Elliot Wilkinson in the third round against Cambridge to claim a well-earned team title (pictured top) with brilliant victories in the semi-final against Oxford and gold-medal showdown with London.
Sport and Exercise Science student Riley, who is supported by a Buchan Jones Sports Scholarship, had struck gold in the -100kg weight division while Wilkinson and Callaway took -73kg silver and bronze respectively. Also topping the podium in the Dan grades competition were Daisy Hogkinson (-48kg) and Amelia Alder (-52kg), the Team Bath Rengen Athlete of the Month for January, with Aldous fifth in -81kg, Ella Dore seventh in -57kg and Creasey-Cottle seventh in -66kg.
Team Bath Judo enjoyed plenty of success in the Kyu grades as gold medals were won by Oscar Bitcliff (men’s -66kg), Jack Rogge (men’s -100kg), Eliza Clift (women’s -52kg), Rebecca Clough (women’s -63kg) and Grace King (women’s -78kg), while Alex Walker won silver in the men’s -90kg.
The Novice competitions on Day 2 saw Sacha Ligner (men’s -60kg), Sachiko Smart (women’s -70kg) and Leonia Kouma (women’s -78kg) all win gold. Silver medals went to Plame Lamsam (men’s -66kg) and Ben Gilder (men’s -90kg), Oscar Wintle took men’s -73kg bronze and there were strong performances from Rachel Terrington (5th, women’s -57kg), Cameron Oakley (7th, men’s -81kg) and Makram Abou Chakra (7th, men’s -90kg).
Completing another impressive weekend for the Student Performance Sport judo squad – coached by Adam Hall, Gregg Varey and Finn Gleeson – was a fifth-placed finish in the women’s team competition for Aldar, Dore, Clough and King.
Visit teambath.com/judo to find out more about the judo programme at the University of Bath.
