Montreal, April 1^st, 2012 – Étienne Briand, Arthur Margelidon and Alix Renaud-Roy each obtained a seventh place ranking in their respective categories at the European Judo Cup held this weekend in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Briand and Margelidon, both from Quebec, followed the same path in the Under 73kg category, each winning three of five bouts. Both Canadian judokas earned a pass into the first round, and won their first matches on the tatami, then lost their second matches in the main tableau – against eventual medal winners. Briand and Margelidon then scored two victories in overtime, but were then bested by Serbian athletes.

“It was a pretty good day for Étienne and Arthur,” commented Canadian Coach Marie-Hélène Chisholm. “Even though technically they’re in the junior category, they beat senior-level athletes this weekend; that’s a fantastic experience for them.”

Alix Renaud-Roy was able to benefit from a forfeit from her main opponent in the Under 70kg class, but was then outdone by the judoka who would go on the win the gold medal. Yet Renaud-Roy bounced back in overtime to defeat a competitor from Montenegro. A Croatian judoka – who later earned a bronze medal – put an end to Renaud-Roy podium hustle and day on the tatami.

Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, Audrée Francis Méthot and Nicolas Di Bartolo, all from Quebec, had a tougher time at the event, and were unable to earn a ranking.

Competing in the Under 63 kg category, Beauchemin-Pinard was exempt from the first round. She then won her first bout, but was bested in her following two matches by eventual medallists.

In the Under 52 kg class, Francis Méthot also won her first bout, but was then eliminated.

Di Bartolo, who competes in the Under 60 kg, was unlucky from the start, losing his first round against an adversary that would later take home the bronze medal.

Canadian judokas now await the PanAmerican Championships, which will take place in Montreal from April 27 to 29 – the next event on schedule.

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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada