COMMONWEALTH Games champion Lachlan Moorhead will not defend his title after being left out of the England judo squad for next month’s games.

The 25-year-old from Penistone won gold at the 2022 games in Birmingham then, after missing 18 months with injuries, won the British title in December then has been competing in tournaments across Europe.

But he has not been selected in England’s 14-strong squad for the Commonwealth Games.

He has moved up a weight category but would have had to come back down for the Commonwealth Games where there are only certain weight categories.

Lachlan told the Chronicle: “The world class performance programme decided it was better for my chances of the next Olympics to keep my weight up and not come down for the Commonwealth Games. I am a bit disappointed. I would have liked to have competed, but I can see how the decision aligns with the broader goals for the LA Olympics. It’s a tough one but it could be a lot worse. It’s not like I wasn’t good enough to go.”

Barnsley will have an athlete at the event in Glasgow as 18-year-old swimmer Gabrielle Idle-Beevers is in the England squad. The Darton woman, who started at Borough of Barnsley Swimming Club, is expected to compete in the breaststroke sprint events plus potentially the relay after winning two medals at the British Championship earlier in the year.

She is also due to compete for Great Britain in the European Junior Championships in Munich, Germany from July 7-12. The Commonwealth Games are due to start on July 23 with the swimming event running from the 24th to the 29th.