News

Gordon Brawley, co-founder of Irvine Judo Club, was presented with the JudoScotland ‘Volunteer of the Year’ after having been named the 2024 winner in recognition of his unwavering dedication to the club and the wider community.

This prestigious accolade is part of the JudoScotland Coaching and Volunteering Awards, a national programme celebrating the dedication and hard work of judo’s workforce across Scotland.

Since helping to establish Irvine Judo in 2010 alongside his brother William and friend David Frew, Gordon has played a pivotal role in transforming the club from a modest group of 25 members in a local community hall into a thriving hub at Parterre Hall in Central Irvine. His leadership and vision have helped the club flourish, both on and off the mat.

Gordon’s contributions extend far beyond coaching. A retired chartered construction manager, he spearheaded the club’s renovation efforts, turning a deteriorating space into a state-of-the-art dojo. “When I first came into the club it was just four walls, there was paint flaking off, water and dampness,” he recalled. “I did a design for the first phase and presented it to the council. I was then able to get funding through sportscotland, and we built it. But I always had an ambition to extend the dojo, to create a gym and new toilets.”

The recent expansion has allowed the club to better serve its members. “The new dojo means we can split the groups by age, because they learn a bit differently. It allows us to prepare the older juniors for joining the senior class, allowing them to transition. It allows for more coaches on the mat,” Gordon explained.

Over the years, Gordon has mentored six senior players through their Level 1 and 2 coaching qualifications and helped over 500 children and adults progress in their judo journey, many achieving black belts and competing at regional, national, and European levels.

His commitment to community is equally impressive. Gordon has led initiatives to welcome young refugees, hosted donation drives for local care homes, and introduced inclusive and girls-only classes. Under his guidance, the club has raised thousands of pounds for local charities supporting the elderly, children and those with disabilities.

“These are the things that motivate me,” Gordon said. “We devote a lot of time to local charity, elderly, children and those with disabilities. Over the past few years we have donated thousands.”

Reflecting on the recognition, Gordon shared, “Although volunteering can go unnoticed, it can be rewarding.” His humility and tireless efforts have not only built a stronger club but also a stronger community.

Gordon was presented his award at Irvine Judo Club by JudoScotland by Lead Wellbeing and Protection Officer Luke Struthers.

As we transition to delivering the Scottish Judo Performance Programme, we would like to share an update on the changes to our staffing structure.

As JudoScotland assumes responsibility for the Performance Programme, staff will be recruited by JudoScotland to provide opportunities and to deliver coaching across the entire performance pathway. Additional sportscotland support services will continue to be provided to institute supported athletes.

We’d like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks to the sportscotland judo coaching team, Euan Burton, Billy Cusack, and Takafumi Kitahara, for their outstanding contribution to judo performance in Scotland. Their dedication, expertise, and support have been instrumental in the development of Scottish Judoka and the success they’ve achieved on the world stage, from Sally Conway’s bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics to Team Scotland Judo’s impressive performance at Birmingham 2022, and numerous international medals along the way. We are incredibly grateful for everything they’ve done and wish them all the very best in their next chapters.

JudoScotland has been the only sportscotland-invested Scottish Governing Body not directly delivering its own performance programme, until now. This shift marks a major and positive milestone. It will enable stronger alignment across the Scottish Judo community, fostering a more cohesive, athlete-centred approach as we look ahead to Glasgow 2026 and beyond.

We are currently recruiting for a Head of Performance and a Performance Pathway Support Coach to help drive the future growth and success of judo in Scotland.

Are you ready to help shape the future of Scottish Judo? We’re on the lookout for a passionate Performance Pathway Coach to join our team at JudoScotland. This isn’t just another coaching role, this is your opportunity to lead, inspire, and elevate the next generation of Scottish judoka, from Pre-Cadet to Senior levels, guiding them toward success on the world stage.

About the Role

As Performance Pathway Coach, you’ll:

• Coach and support judoka across all stages of our performance pathway
• Deliver inspiring, high-quality training sessions and workshops
• Work with athletes to set goals and track progress
• Build strong links with clubs and personal coaches
• Help organise camps, events and international opportunities
• Promote athlete wellbeing and support smooth transitions across the pathway

If you’re passionate about performance coaching and want to help shape the future of Scottish judo, this could be the role for you.

Download the application pack to find out more and apply.

If you are having trouble accessing the application forms through the PDF, please use the links below.

A brief update from the JudoScotland Chair Marc Preston on activity in April.

Dear Members,  

The month kicked off with a rescheduled catch-up involving myself, Judith and our Vice Presidents – Rick Kenney, Jim Feenan and Graham Campbell.  Unfortunately, our President, Colin McIver was unable to join us on this occasion.   As always, it was a highly productive chat where opinions were freely exchanged. 

A couple of weeks later, Judith and I had an online meeting with Markus Moser, Sporting Director of the Austrian Judo Federation.  It was an extremely positive meeting where Markus shared many insights re: the Austrian set-up.  I’d like to thank Markus personally for the time he spent with us. 

The month was wrapped up with our JudoScotland Board meeting where we had decided to concentrate on a couple of really meaty subjects, both of which will help JudoScotland to move forward in the best possible way. 

As Members are most likely aware, JudoScotland has now reassumed control of our own High Performance Programme, something I have personally been looking forward to for some time.  I truly believe it is the way forward for us and I am really excited about the programme going forward.  I’d like to take the opportunity to thank sportscotland for all their input over the years and for helping to facilitate the transfer of the programme back to us.  We will aim to ensure that we have it all operations properly solidified in the coming months so that we can give our athletes the best possible chance at the Commonwealth Games next year and going forward. 

It was great to see three Scottish judoka selected to represent Great Britain at the Cadet European Championships next month. Congratulations to Coen Gilbert, Lexi Buchanan and Vasiliy Menshykov  on their selection.  

The last weekend of the month saw the Granite City Grand Prix take place in Aberdeen, as always this was a jam-packed event.  

Looking forward, we’re all highly excited at the recent announcement that Tato Grigalashvili has been announced as the guest star at The Gathering later in the year.    Tato is a truly world class, triple world champion from Georgia. I had the pleasure of being in the arena watching him perform at the Paris Olympics 2024 and am absolutely sure that we’re in for a treat at the Gathering! Something for our judo community to look forward to and building on our world class line-ups at these events. 

There are so many positives that are happening in JudoScotland at the moment, and I am truly excited about our future!    

Marc Preston, 7th Dan 

JudoScotland has today opened nominations for the annual Community Awards, focusing on celebrating the incredible efforts of the judo community both on and off the mat. 

Previously named the Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering (COV) Awards, the Community Awards aim to celebrate and recognise the incredible efforts of the clubs, coaches, volunteers, technical officials and referees in the judo community.  

The format this year includes eight award categories, many of which have been featured in previous years, however, a new award for 2025 is the Young Person of the Year. This award will be presented to a young person (aged 16-24) who goes above and beyond to be a role model to young people and is a positive representative of the judo community.  Additionally, it seems only fitting that our Lifetime Contribution Award is now named after Dr. George Kerr, 10th Dan CBE, in recognition of being Scotland’s only 10th Dan and his exceptional contribution to our sport. 

The award categories are as follows: 

• Club of the Year will be awarded to a club that makes a significant positive impact in their community through their delivery, organisation, and development of judo. It also honours their commitment to promoting the core values of our sport and JudoScotland. 

• Club Coach of the Year celebrates a coach who has made a remarkable impact by fostering the growth of judoka, expanding access to Judo opportunities, and significantly increasing participation within their community.   

• Disability Coach of the Year recognises an outstanding coach working with people with disabilities. This coach will have provided inclusive opportunities by actively removing barriers to participation and taking time to deliver judo sessions to meet participant needs to help them develop their skills, build confidence and resilience, and develop a positive attitude towards sport and physical activity.   

• Player Development Coach of the Year will be presented to a coach who has made an outstanding contribution to long-term athlete development aligned with the JudoScotland Player Development Framework. 

• Volunteer of the Year credits a volunteer in a non-coaching role, who has made an outstanding contribution to their club, and the wider judo community.    

• Technical Official/Referee of the Year will be presented to a Technical Official/Referee who has made a significant contribution to the sport through their hard work and dedication and executed a high performance both on and off the mat.   

• The George Kerr Lifetime Contribution Award has been renamed this year in recognition of Scotland’s only 10th Dan and his exceptional contribution to our sport. It seems only fitting that our Lifetime Contribution Award is named after Dr. George Kerr, 10th Dan CBE. This award honors an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to judo over a sustained period as either a coach, technical official, referee, or volunteer. They are an exemplary role model to others and whose efforts have contributed to the growth and development of individuals and the wider judo community. 

• Young Person of the Year recognises an outstanding young person (aged 16-24) who goes above and beyond to be a role model to young people and is a positive representative of the judo community.   

The award nomination period will close at noon on Friday 4th July 2025. The award winners will be announced in August following a selection process by a judging panel.

JudoScotland’s CEO, Judith McCleary said: “We are really excited to be opening the nominations for our Community Awards 2025. Our sport would not be possible without the coaching and volunteer workforce in our clubs, and it’s important that we shine a light on the incredible work that they do to help our sport thrive in Scotland.  

“I’d like to wish the best of luck to all the award nominees, and I look forward to celebrating the successes of our winners later in the year.” 

More information on the Community Awards and how to nominate someone can be found here. 

We are thrilled to announce that Tato Grigalashvili, one of the most talented Georgian Judoka of all time, will be joining us at The Gathering 2025! Join us for an unforgettable weekend of judo on 13th & 14th September at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow.

Achievements: 

🥈 Silver Medallist – Paris 2024 Olympic Games 

🥇 3 x World Champion 

🥇 3 x European Champion 

🏅 17 IJF World Tour Medals 

Known for his explosive throws, unorthodox gripping, and relentless fighting spirit, Tato embodies the powerful and dynamic Georgian style of judo. 

This is a rare and incredible opportunity to learn from one of the sport’s true greats — an experience guaranteed to challenge, inspire, and elevate judoka of all levels! 

A Fresh Look for The Gathering 2025 

This year, The Gathering has gone through a bit of a transformation! We’ve listened to your feedback and made some exciting changes to improve the weekend experience. 

New Venue: Emirates Arena, Glasgow 

To welcome even more judoka, we’re moving to the world-class Emirates Arena for 2025. This bigger venue means more space, more judoka and more opportunity. Open to judoka aged 12 and up of all levels. 

Evening Social Returns! 

The Gatherings popular evening social is included with all tickets for over 18s. 

Time: From 8:00 PM 

Venue: Berlinkys, 396 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD 

A great chance to unwind, connect, and celebrate an incredible weekend of judo. 

Accommodation  

With the move to Emirates Arena, there will be no on-site accommodation. However, our official accommodation partner, sportshotels, offers a variety of nearby options to suit every budget. 

Access the JudoScotland Platform Here. 

Search for hotels using the following postcodes Emirates (G40 3HG) or Berlinkys (G2 3JD) 

Important Notice 

Please note that the JudoScotland Gathering is a participation-only event. To ensure a safe and focused environment for all judoka, there are no designated spectator areas. We thank you for your understanding and support in helping us create a positive experience for everyone involved. 

Additionally, the evening social event is strictly for individuals aged 18 and over, in accordance with licensing laws in Scotland. Identification may be required for entry. 

We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to welcoming all registered participants to the event. 

Hamilton Judo Club Inclusion has marked a major achievement by becoming the first club in 2025 to be awarded JudoMARK accreditation. The Club is the third club in Scotland to have reached this milestone since the club accreditation scheme was updated last year.  

JudoMARK clubs are committed to maintaining the highest standards of Safeguarding and Wellbeing, People Development, Club Management and Governance. As the national governing body for judo in Scotland, JudoScotland is committed to equipping affiliated clubs with the resources and support they need to create not only a safe environment but one where the sport can thrive. Club Coach Simone Hamill, was the leading charge behind the club’s ambition to obtain JudoMARK and spoke about why she thinks it’s important: 

“I think at Hamilton Judo Club Inclusion we have really high standards already; our Safeguarding processes, our People Management processes, our paperwork, making sure that everything is there. Going through the JudoMARK process was a great way to show everyone that we’re there, we’ve done it, and we really keep on top of it.” 

From the initial enquiry to completing the process, JudoScotland Club Support Officers were on hand to support the club with any questions they had. Simone was grateful for the support as the club began the process towards the end of 2024. 

“The great thing was Laura (Kirkhouse, Club Support Officer) was such a great support, she was always there at the end of the phone or over email. She was so helpful in making sure we were doing everything right and that we had everything that we needed. Any bits we were missing, she was so quick to come back and help us out with them.” 

Achieving JudoMARK accreditation helps attract new members to the club and reassures current members that their club upholds the highest standards of safety, governance, and professionalism.  Simone said:  

“It’s almost like a badge of honour that we have everything in place at this club and your kids are safe in our hands, your adults are safe in our hands and it’s just a great place to come and do judo.” 

Speaking about the club’s recent success Laura Kirkhouse, Club Support Officer, said: “We are very proud of Hamilton Judo Club Inclusion gaining JudoMARK status. It’s testament to the hard work and commitment of the coaches and volunteers at the club. 

“JudoMARK has a positive impact not only on club operations but helps to provide clarity, professionalism, and a strong foundation for future success. Their achievement not only benefits the club but also contributes to JudoScotland’s goal of creating safe, welcoming, and thriving judo communities across Scotland.” 

To learn more about JudoMARK and to find out how your club can get involved click here. 

We’re excited to announce SportsHotels.com as the Official Accommodation Partner of JudoScotland!

As specialists in sports travel, SportsHotels.com will offer exclusive accommodation deals and booking support to our judoka, coaches, officials, and supporters, whether you’re competing or cheering from the stands at events across Scotland (and beyond!).

With a packed calendar of judo events throughout the year, affordable and accessible travel has never been more important. That’s why we’re teaming up with SportsHotels.com to make it easier for our members and help keep costs down.

This partnership will provide all JudoScotland members access to discounts of up to 40% on hotel bookings through SportsHotels.com. With over 1 million properties in more than 200 countries, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re heading to your first competition or representing your country on the International stage.

Stephen Carlin, CEO at SportsHotels.com, said: “We are incredibly proud to be working with JudoScotland, and are very much looking forward to supporting the sport’s growing calendar of events while ensuring that athletes and supporters can access affordable, quality accommodation wherever they compete or go along to support the sport.

Our goal is to remove the hassle from booking travel so that judo athletes and their families can focus on the action on the mat!”

Judith McCleary, CEO of JudoScotland, added: ” This partnership intends to benefit our members and the wider Scottish judo community. At JudoScotland, we’re committed to making the sport as accessible and inclusive as possible, and helping our members to manage accommodation costs plays a role in achieving that.

SportsHotels.com really understand the needs of our community and we’re delighted to welcome them on board as an official partner.”

The partnership kicks off in time for some of the biggest events on the domestic Judo calendar. Booking links and special offers will be available through our website, event outlines, email newsletters and social media channels. You can start making the most of this new partnership today, just head to ClubSportsHotels.com and discover exclusive rates and travel solutions tailored for the judo community.

Are you ready to lead Scotland’s judoka to success on the world stage?

JudoScotland is looking for an inspiring and experienced leader to shape the future of our Performance Pathway. With sights set on Glasgow 2026 and beyond, this is your chance to make a real impact in a high-performance, values-led sport.

About the Role

As Head of Performance, you’ll:

• Design an integrated performance pathway to drive excellence
• Coach, mentor, and support a thriving team of pathway coaches
• Create a cohesive system in partnership with British Judo and sportscotland
• Support and develop future Olympians, Paralympians and Commonwealth contenders
• Drive the culture, systems, and strategy that deliver long-term success

This is more than a coaching role, it’s your chance to build a high-performance system that empowers Scottish judoka to deliver consistent success on the world stage.

View the full Application Pack and find out how to apply below.

JudoScotland is proud to reaffirm its commitment to Clean Sport and involvement in UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD’s) Clean Sport Week campaign.

UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD) national awareness week, Clean Sport Week runs this year from 19th – 23rd May 2025, the theme for this year is “The Next Generation”.

The aim of Clean Sport Week is to highlight the importance of ensuring that sports remain fair and clean for all athletes. The theme this year emphasises the importance of supporting and educating young people about anti-doping and inspiring them to become proud, clean athletes.

Each year, we support athletes and coaches on our Performance Pathway Squads (Cadet, Junior, and Senior) by providing access to education through 100% Me or Clean Sport workshops. These sessions are designed to give them the knowledge and confidence to make informed, responsible decisions throughout their sporting careers.

JudoScotland encourages coaches to complete a UKAD Anti-doping module as part of their CPD to ensure that they can advise their players to the best of their ability. The module outlines the importance of players competing in clean sport and provides clear guidance for athletes and those around them on the risks and potential consequences of supplementation. This ensures that coaches can support players in making informed choices.

In April, in collaboration with UKAD, we hosted a parents-only session for our Talent Development Pathway parents to provide a better understanding of anti-doping. We recognise that parents play a vital role in helping young athletes stay clean in sport. Research shows that their support strongly influences an athlete’s commitment to clean sport values. With the many challenges athletes face, parents can be key in helping them navigate setbacks and external pressures.

JudoScotland’s CEO Judith McCleary said: “We are delighted to support the Clean Sport Week campaign. It is so important that any success our judoka achieve is down purely to their hard work and dedication.”

“As a sport, judo follows a strong moral code with honesty and honor at its core, so it is vital that we support our athletes to be well educated to help make informed decisions.”

To find out more about UKAD’s Clean Sport Week initiative, click HERE.