The Irish Judo Association is proud to highlight the continued growth and strong presence of women at the Irish Veterans Open 2025, held earlier this year. Women’s participation in this event has seen a remarkable rise over the past decade — and 2025 was no exception.
From just one competitor eleven years ago to growing numbers in recent years, the female entry has steadily strengthened. While the pandemic years saw numbers fall as low as three competitors, participation bounced back, with eight women competing in 2023 and sixteen in 2024, marking the tournament’s tenth anniversary. This year, eighteen women registered, with fourteen ultimately competing on the day.
Despite not matching last year’s record entry, the range of weight categories offered more balanced and competitive contests. A dedicated F1 U70 category saw three athletes compete, while additional merged categories included U57, U63, U78, 78+, and Kyu Grades.
Competitors travelled from across Ireland — and beyond — to take part. Athletes included entrants from Scotland and Northern Ireland alongside IJA judoka such as Kathleen McNaught, Collette Kerr, Joanne Walker, and Peggy Magee. Clubs represented included Shingtai, PSJ, Cabra, University of Galway, Daigokan, and others.
Supporting the Future of Women’s Masters Judo
The Irish Masters Open continues to rely on the support and presence of women over thirty who wish to compete among their peers. Sustaining the female Masters categories is vital to ensuring that women in this age group retain meaningful competition opportunities into the future. Many of this year’s bouts were friendly in nature, providing a space for athletes to test their skills against similarly experienced and mature judoka.
Alongside the athletes, a strong team of women played essential roles behind the scenes. Referees Renate Tekoriute and Peggy Magee, as well as table officials Grainne and Eiran Murphy, Sophia Wasil, and Liz Dennis, helped ensure smooth running throughout the event. Theresa Coughlan stepped in as runner, supporting the table team with constant flow of draw sheets. Their collective efforts were critical to the success of the competition.
A Community Effort
As highlighted in the report, events like the Irish Masters Open thrive thanks to the dedication of women who contribute not only on the mat, but also in organisational and officiating roles. Their involvement ensures that Veterans competition remains an accessible, inclusive, and valued part of the Irish judo landscape.
