New Partnership Agreement
Following the success of the recent Kyu Grade competition held in St. Andrews, Scottish Student Sport and JudoScotland celebrate a new partnership agreement to grow student Judo on and off the mats.
Scottish Student Sport (SSS) are pleased to announce the latest in a number of Partnership Agreements (PA) with Scottish Governing Bodies. This new agreement with Judo Scotland (JS) will create a shared strategy toward growing participation, developing the workforce and supporting student clubs.
As an indoor contact sport Judo faced serious challenges during the lockdowns throughout the pandemic but participation at semester 1 events suggests that the Judo community are as eager as ever to compete. This PA has ambitious targets around growing club membership to exceed pre-pandemic levels, and will do so through club support from both SSS and JS.
Through reviewing the competition structure Scottish Student Judo (SSJ) will ensure there are opportunities for those new to the sport as well as those looking for a more competitive offering. There are also plans to provide a transition pathway for school pupils to student clubs. There will also be a focus on continuing to increase the number of student officials and coaches within JS.
Tony Penfold, Head of Delivery at Judo Scotland, said: “This new Partnership Agreement with Scottish Student Sport provides us with a great opportunity to focus our efforts on key areas that will enable student judo in Scotland to bounce back following COVID and establish itself as an integral part of the Scottish judo community. This is an exciting time for student Judo as all key stakeholders have inputted into this agreement and are now accountable for its delivery, and we very much look forward to seeing what we can collectively achieve.”
Neil Rankin, Development Coordinator at SSS, added: “As an indoor contact sport Judo has had a difficult two years with pandemic restrictions, but in semester 1 already we have seen a good recovery – thanks to the work of Paul Grady (SSJ Chair) and other key volunteers. This partnership will help steer collaboration with Judo Scotland toward increasing participation, developing the workforce and cementing student Judo within the work of the governing body.”
The 2021 British Championships
Over the past two weekends, the British Judo Championships returned to the EIS, Sheffield where eight Scottish Judoka were crowned British Champion.
On the first weekend of the competition, six Scottish judokas from 13 clubs were crowned British Champions. In the pre-cadets Lori Buchan (PCG -57) Destination Judo, Isaac Callaghan (PCB-34) from Destination Judo, Vasilliy Menshykov (PCB-42) Garioch Judo Club and Archie Strang (PCB -46) Danderhall Judo Club secured Gold in their respective categories. With Emma McCabe (CG-44) Titan Judo and Blake Rodman (CB -46) Hibari Kan Judo Club claimed victory in their Cadet categories.
However, it wasn't just our Judoka representing Scotland at Sheffield, we were proud to see our esteemed table officials and referees taking up the mantle of British Championships. Michelle Strachan was there in the capacity of Senior Recorder as well as referees Frazer McBeath, James McBeath, Paul Grady, Graeme McLachlan and Charlie Strachan all helping the decisions on the mat run smoothly.
The second weekend marked the return of the Juniors and Seniors who took to the mat in an attempt to be crowned British Champion. With a total of 22 medals across the weekend and two British Champions crowned, Scottish Judoka finished the year on a high at the EIS Sheffield.
On Saturday Luke Thomson from Sportif claimed victory in the Junior 55kg category. On Sunday Olympian Sarah Adlington (Edinburgh Judo) returned to competition to become British Champion in the +78kg category.
We were also delighted to see referees Audrey Pirie, Paul Grady, Neil Malone, Graeme McLachlan and James McBeath, representing Scotland with their astute decision making.
Click here for the full list of results.
Click here for full Junior results.
Click here for full Senior results.
New Coach Learning Framework
Coaching is more than just making participants better performers. It's about supporting them to be better people and better performers. The insight-based Coach Learning Framework helps coaches grow and develop their coaching knowledge and their confidence to deliver great sessions. It equips coaches with a toolkit of skills to enable them to support participants and enhance their enjoyment and performance in sport and physical activity.
UK Coaching, along with more than 80 coaching experts from around the world, examined the foundations that make up a high-quality coaching environment that is packed with great learning experiences, to determine exactly what people need to be successful, as well as the skills, qualities and behaviours a coach needs to provide to support them.
The Scottish Open Returns
JudoScotland is delighted to announce the return of the Scottish Open Judo Tournament on the 22nd & 23rd of January 2022. A competition like no other on the Scottish Judo calendar, The Scottish Open attracts domestic and international Judoka throughout their judo journey to compete at the first international Judo event in Scotland in two years.
This year we have added a second day of competition to accommodate Cadet Judoka so they can compete alongside Juniors, Seniors and Masters instead of in a stand-alone event later in the year.
When: Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd January 2022
Where: sportscotland National Centre: Inverclyde, Burnside Road, Largs, KA30 8RW.
Scottish National Closed Championships 2021 Results
6th & 7th November 2021
sportscotland National Centre: Inverclyde, Burnside Road, Largs, KA30 8RW
Results: Scottish Open 2020
18th January 2020
sportscotland National Centre: Inverclyde, Burnside Road, Largs, KA30 8RW