Judo: Howey leads the home challenge
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Your support makes all the difference.Two past world champions, Kate Howey and Graeme Randall, spearhead the English and Scottish campaign to dominate the Commonwealth Games judo tournament in Manchester, with as many as 10 of the gold medals expected to be shared between the two countries.
Howey, 28, faces a strong challenge from Scotland's Amanda Costello and Canada's Marie-Helene Chisholm, but is fired up having already fought – and won – a successful legal challenge to be in the squad after being initially named as reserve. "It is the only medal I haven't won," she points out. Randall, 27, who is fiercely proud of his Edinburgh Club background, should prove impossible to beat under Scottish colours.
Yet it is unlikely these two will spur their teams on to match the 14 golds won by both home countries on the last time occasion judo was included in the Games, in Auckland in 1990.
The English women's squad could take as many as four of the weight categories. The European featherweight champion Georgina Singleton should brush all opponents aside in her present form, and the European silver medallist Karen Roberts should also come through – if she can cope with Scotland's Sarah Clarke who won their last encounter. The light-heavyweight Michelle Rogers and the heavyweight Simone Callender, can similarly expect to reach the final.
In the men's division, on the opening day, 30 July, the final is likely to be experience versus youthful talent – John Buchanan, of Scotland, and Craig Fallon of England. The 20-year-old Fallon gave an extraordinary display in winning the British Open this year. There could be another domestic dispute in the featherweights, with David Somerville (Scotland) and James Warren (England) going head to head.
The light-middleweight Luke Preston and light-heavyweight Joanna Melen, of Wales, should get on the podium, as may the Northern Ireland featherweight Lisa Bradley.
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