By Martin Gough

Clark disappointed in Rotterdam after winning European silver

European judo silver medallist Sarah Clark will use this weekend's World Cup in Birmingham as a chance to regroup after a tough World Championships.

Clark, 31, from South Shields, lost in the first round in Rotterdam in August, four months after her Euro success.

She is in a 49-strong British team for the event, which counts towards world rankings, at the National Indoor Arena.

"Because the World Champs were not so successful, this gives me another mini-focus," she told BBC Sport.

"I always go out to win. Home crowds make a difference and I think it will be a sell-out."

Clark, who lives and trains in Edinburgh with a group of elite judokas, makes no excuses for her World Championships performance, although the draw and new rules did not help her.

With the new rules you often see top-ranked players knocked out in the early rounds Sarah Clark

She lost to Japan's Kaori Matsumoto - who went on to reach the semi-finals - but the new competition format did not allow her a second-chance fight with a chance of a bronze medal.

"I went in with great expectations, really well-prepared but I didn't get started, had two penalties and there is no comeback with the new rules," added Clark.

"With the new rules you often see top-ranked players knocked out in the early rounds.

"It's a bit bizarre but you can't blame the system because if you want to win you've got to beat everyone."

Clark, an Olympian at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, will be fighting in the -63kg category after spending much of the season at -57kg.

She expects to continue in the lighter class, which she switched to successfully following the 2008 Games, at major championships.

But at 5ft 8in, Clark struggles to keep to the lighter weight limit throughout the year.

"This means I can prepare as I would, without the stresses of making weight," she explained.

"I think I can re-establish myself at 63. I'm still up there and I'm looking to try and win."

This is the first time that a World Cup event for both men and women has been held in the UK, and entries have been received from 27 countries.

It follows the women's World Cups held in 2006 - when Clark won bronze - and 2008 and the men's event in 2007.

As host nation Britain has decided to field the maximum four competitors in each of the seven men's weight categories, plus 24 women across the seven women's categories.

Clark is one of 11 players who competed in Rotterdam, although the only medallist there, Karina Bryant, has been forced out with a hand injury.

Clark is in action on Saturday, when half of the 14 titles are up for grabs.

Her father also has a big weekend of sporting action ahead because his house in South Shields is close to the finish line for the Great North Run on Sunday.

However, fellow Beijing Olympian Craig Fallon is absent because he has taken time away from the sport.

On Sunday, Clark's Edinburgh club-mate Euan Burton, the 2007 European bronze medallist, will take part in the -81kg event.

And Clark singled out Sally Conway, who competes in the -70kg class, as one to watch after she finished fifth at the World Championships.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version