Oates & Cox win bronze medals at European Championships

Cox got Team GB off to a good start with bronze in the -52kg category

British judo players Colin Oates and Sophie Cox each two bronze medals on the opening day of the European Championships in Turkey.

Oates, who won in the -66kg category and and Cox (-52kg) are part of an 18-strong British squad at the championships, which run until Sunday.

"It's not sunk in yet, I'm in shock," said Oates, who beat Pierre Duprat of France for his first major medal.

"I was relaxed and felt really strong," added the Norwich judoka.

"I overpowered fighters such as the Ukranian - Serhiy Drebot - and he's a really physical judoka, which is something I haven't really managed before."

Claiming her fifth European Championship podium place, Cox said: "Every contest was a really hard-fought battle and took all my energy.

"The fact that the bronze is my fifth medal at the event makes it extra special, especially with my last being in 2005 before I took a break from the sport."

Ashley McKenzie (-60kg), Craig Fallon (-66kg) and Gemma Howell (-57kg) were all knocked out in the early stages in their categories.

Britain's highest-ranked player Euan Burton is in action on Friday in the -81kg category.

Sarah Clark, Faith Pitman, Gemma Gibbons, Danny Williams, Megan Fletcher, Owen Livesey and Tom Ree are also fighting for Great Britain.