Hi all 

A very short Chair’s report for July.

The Veterans National 1st Kyu & Dan Grading was held on 21st July; a good turnout considering the summer period and we are thankful for the support of our member club, Glenrothes Martial Arts Centre (GMAC) Judo who provided a great facility for the day.
The main talking point of July was, of course, the Olympic Games in Paris. Team GB had 5 female players in contention. Unfortunately results didn’t go as hoped and there were no medals however I would like to congratulate them all on their qualification; it’s a huge achievement to ultimately be competing at the Games.
The event itself was absolutely magnificent, with superb judo. The French love our sport and created an incredible atmosphere. It was an absolute joy to be in such a cauldron witnessing judo at its absolute best!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Andrew Scoular, CEO of British Judo and Gerry Gualtieri, Chair of British Judo, for their hospitality and for looking after us so well   It’s critically important that JudoScotland and British Judo are aligned and continue to build on our very strong relationship.  Also, thank you to our International Judo Federation friends and contacts; great to strengthen the bonds that we’ve developed over the years. As per my previous report, I went for the first 3 days, then Judith and ultimately Graham Campbell took over for the remainder of the event. We had some really good networking opportunities and we’ve already initiated relationships with other Federations/Associations, all boding well for the future.

As the judo came to a close, we hosted an Olympic Watch Party at our headquarters in Ratho. It was lovely to see staff and members with families & friends join in some fun and camaraderie. If you haven’t been along to our offices and National Training Centre before and would like to, you are always welcome to pop in.
But back to today, and as the start of the new school year fast approaches I’d like to commend our coaches and clubs, keep up the good work. And please have a look at Events | Judo Scotland – over the next few months, there are an array of fantastic opportunities. Let’s smash it!

 Marc Preston

6th Dan