AWARDS NIGHT NOVEMBER 17TH
Highland Budokan Judo Club Awards Night 2012
The Highland Budokan Judo Club Annual Awards night took place last Saturday at the Mercure Hotel, Inverness, when the achievements of the club and its players were recognised. The following is a summary of the club’s achievements since this time last year.
Robert Inglis our Head Coach, who started the club in 1993, was awarded his 4th Dan black belt grade and as a senior examiner he can grade our players up to their black belts.
Jamie Sneddon and Ramsay Darling completed their UKCC level 2 coaching awards, so we now have three level two coaches and four level 1’s active in the club.
The club held two gradings this year and over 100 players got new belts and rankings. We held three training camps at Easter, summer and October holidays and also attended another one in the summer in Belgium. Individually squad members have attended camps in Kent, Portugal and all over Scotland.
The club also purchased new mats for the Farr class including a crash mat.
The minibus has been well used, we travelled with it to 19 competitions in Great Britain, from Aberdeen to Crystal Palace and also abroad to Holland and Belgium. A total of thirty players attended over thirty tournaments and brought home a huge haul of medals, 45 gold, 36 silver and 41 bronze!
We have players who have competed at the highest level. Stephanie Inglis has competed at numerous competitions in Europe and was fifth at her weight in the GB Olympic trials. She won the commonwealth gold medal in Cardiff. the highest achievement of any club member to date.
Both Steph Inglis and Sandra Pirie have won British ranking points and are selected to compete as seeded players in the British senior championships in January. Sandra was also a volunteer at the Para Olympic judo event this summer.
Chris Mota and Michael Maclennan competed in Portugal in the European Cadet cup representing Scotland and Dave Kerr and Michael represented Scotland at the School games at the Olympic judo venue, the Excel in London. Aimee Grant was selected as part of the Scottish team to contest the GB team event in Sheffield where they won the bronze medal. At the Flanders cup in Belgium fighting for Scotland she came 7th out of 33 a great achievement at a tough international competition. John Haslam won silver in Belfast at the British Masters event and also at the Scottish Open.
At the British championships for 10/11 year olds Jack Grant and Libby Anderson won bronze medals. At the junior British Michael Maclennan 16, won a bronze medal and Lauren Sturrock just missed out on bronze with a creditable fifth place.
Judo Scotland recently announced its Scottish squad selections and the club has five members, Dave Kerr, 17, Michael Maclennan, 16, Chris Mota, 17, Lauren Sturrock, 18 and Aimee Grant, 14 on the performance squad. Callum Maclennan, 17, is on the transition squad and Nathan van Horrik, 11, Josie Steele, 12, Libby Anderson, 11, Daniel Hutcheson, 13, Cosmo Taylor, 12, and Joanna Maclennan, 10, are on the talent squad. Steph Inglis is on the Performance Delivery squad, which includes Scottish Olympic athletes .This national squad selection will allow them to receive funding from their local sports councils. It is a huge achievement to have so many players from one club at these levels.
Dave Kerr won his 1st Dan black belt to celebrate his 17th Birthday and three more players will be fighting for theirs at a grading next weekend.
The 1st of December is our club Championships where everybody has the chance to win a medal and try a competition for the first time. Anyone over eight can take part and spectators are very welcome as there will be a raffle, a tombola and merchandise on the day, plus of course teas, coffees and home baking!
We are hosting a timekeeper’s course the next day on the 2nd December and then we will be looking forward to holding our Grand Prix event in April at Inverness Leisure.
Beverley Read, our secretary, stood down from the post this year after four years as a volunteer at the club. Along with our treasurer Alison Sturrock and coach Robert Inglis, they were all nominated by the club for the Judo Scotland Coach and Volunteer Awards and it was announced that Robert had won Children’s Coach of the Year. His name will now be put forward for the SportScotland awards.
Chris Mota won the Inverness sports council U18 sports player of the year award 2011 and Josie Steele won the U12 award for the third year in a row! Keir Smith stepped down as Chairman this year and he and his partner Beverley Read were awarded the Club's Recognition award for Motivation, Dedication and Outstanding Contribution.
The contribution volunteers make in the club is very important as it plays a huge part in the club’s successes, from the parents who drive their children and the minibus around the country, to the coaches and administrators who give up so much of their own time to support the club and give its members the opportunity to enjoy our wonderful sport. Lastly the club could not exist without all the players who enjoy this amazing sport and make it all worthwhile!
The Award winners on the night are as follows;-
Achievement Awards:
Tommy Mercer
Gregor Samuels
Cathel Robertson
Jamie Sturrock
Jaimes Burton
Girls under 12 Player of the Year:
1st Place – Josie Steele
2nd Place – Joanna Maclennan
3rd Place – Libby Anderson
Boys under 12 Player of the Year:
1st Place – Nathan Van Horrik
2nd Place – Jack Grant
3rd Place – Thomas Inglis
Girls under 16 Player of the Year:
1st Place – Aimee Grant
2nd Place – Hannah Kerr
Boys under 16 Player of the Year:
Joint 1st Place – Michael Maclennan
1st Place – Chris Mota
3rd Place – Daniel Hutcheson
Throw of the Year:
1st David Kerr
2nd Chris Mota
3rd John Haslam
Service to Coaching
Trophy & certificate:
Ramsay Darling, Jenny Maclennan
Senior Female Player of the Year:
1st Place – Stephanie Inglis,
2nd Place– Sandra Pirie
Youth Female Player of the Year:
1st Place – Lauren Sturrock
Senior Male Player of the Year:
1st Place – David Kerr
2nd Place – John Haslam
3rd Place – Callum Maclennan
Thanks to:
For assisting with Coaching
Alison Sturrock
Andy Naismith
Mark Mapplebeck
Paul Mapplebeck
John Fitzgerald
Jamie Sneddon
Special award for Beverley Read and Keir Smith, Clubs Recognition award for Motivation, Dedication and Outstanding Contribution.
Final award of the night went to our treasurer Alison Sturrock, who quietly keeps the club running smoothly while helping as a volunteer coach and is always ready to help out with every aspect of the club. She was presented with a gift voucher for Run 4 It.