The Irish Judo Association proudly reflects on a strong showing from our veteran judoka at the World Masters Championships 2025, held from 3rd–7th November at the Dojo de France in Paris. Our athletes demonstrated exceptional spirit, resilience, and skill on the international stage.

🏅 Medal Highlights

  • Dermot Killeen continued his excellent form, following last year’s World Masters bronze with another bronze medal in the M8 +100kg category.

  • Lydia Ritchie, European champion, competed in a merged U52kg category and secured a silver medal, despite normally fighting at U48kg — an impressive achievement.

🔹 Notable Performances

  • Shona Maguire delivered an outstanding performance in her first-ever World Masters, finishing 5th place.

  • Danny Roche placed 7th in M6 U60, showcasing solid technical ability throughout the day.

⚔️ Strong Efforts Across the Team

While several of our seasoned veterans—Paul Cummins, Donal Tannam, and Johnny Dennis—missed out on medals this year, they displayed determination and competitive spirit against a world-class field.

The remainder of the Irish squad also performed admirably:
Tadhg Kelly, Noel Naude, Enda Hackett, James Ward, Sumit Parmar, Leo Ryan, and Alex Aldea all contributed to a strong collective showing for Ireland.

📅 Looking Ahead

The annual Masters Grading will take place at PCSJ on 22nd November, after which preparations will begin for the 2026 competition season.

Congratulations to all athletes for their dedication, perseverance, and for representing Ireland with pride on the world stage. 🇮🇪🥋

More on the report can be found HERE.