News

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.

JudoScotland is excited to announce that it will be delivering the Scottish Judo Performance Programme from this summer.

As the only sportscotland-invested Scottish Governing Body not currently delivering its own performance programme, this transition marks a significant and positive change. It will allow for greater alignment within the wider Scottish Judo community, ensuring a more integrated and athlete-focused approach as we head towards Glasgow 2026 and beyond.

Craig Burn, Director of Sport at sportscotland said: “The transition of the judo performance programme from sportscotland to JudoScotland marks an important step forward for the governing body, and for the sport in Scotland.

“Working with the team at JudoScotland, we will continue to provide specialist services from the sportscotland institute of sport to performance athletes, ensuring that Scotland’s judoka have the support they need to deliver continued success on the world stage.”

JudoScotland CEO Judith McCleary commented: “We are excited for this next chapter for Judo in Scotland, as we bring our sport in line with other Scottish Governing Bodies. I believe this move offers a fantastic opportunity for improved internal alignment within the performance pathway, whilst we also look to enhance collaboration with British Judo enabling us to build a stronger, more cohesive performance structure across the Home Nations.”

JudoScotland will soon begin recruiting for key roles within the new Performance Programme.

Three Scottish Judoka have been selected to represent Great Britain at the Cadet European Championships taking place in Skopje, North Macedonia from the 26th – the 29th of June. The three Judoka; Coen Gilbert, Lexi Buchanan and Vasiliy Menshykov will join the team representing Great Britain. 

Coen Gilbert from Sportif will compete in the -50kg following his success across the European circuit so far this year. Coen has secured Bronze Medals at the Matsuru Dutch Open, Samorin Cadet European Cup, and the International Masters Bremen. In addition to a Silver Medal at the Porec Millennium Team Cadet European Cup. 

Lexi Buchanan, who also hails from Sportif will compete in the -48kg category following her 5th place finish at the International Thuringia Cup earlier this year. This also follows her triple gold medal success at the Scottish National Closed Championship in December 2024 in the Cadet, Junior and Senior categories.  

Garioch Judo Club’s Vasiliy Menshykov completes the Scottish cohort competing in the -66kg category following his 7th place finishes at both the International Masters Bremen and the Samorin Cadet European Cup, winning nine fights across the international circuit this year alone.   

JudoScotland Talent Development Manager, Gary Edwards added: “It is always an honour to be selected to represent GB, it is an incredible experience for the three judoka to compete on such a prestigious stage.  

“The competition will provide an excellent development opportunity to help them grow as players and is the first step on the ladder to bigger and better things.” 

Coen Gilbert – Sportif

Lexi Buchanan – Sportif

Vasiliy Menshykov – Garioch Judo Club

Commonwealth Sport and the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company have formally appointed 12 Technical Delegates for next year’s Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. This includes the appointment of Loretta Doyle as the Judo Technical Delegate.

Technical delegates (TD) represent international sports federations and are responsible for ensuring that competition is delivered to the highest possible standards and adheres to a sport’s rules and regulations. Technical Delegates will oversee all technical aspects of their respective sports, during Glasgow 2026.

The Glasgow 2026 Technical Delegates hail from seven different nations and includes a former Commonwealth Games champion, Olympians, a former ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission and a former Team England Chef de Mission.

Former World, European, Commonwealth and British Champion judoka Loretta Doyle (9th Dan), has been selected as a Technical Delegate at the Commonwealth Games for the first time.

Speaking about taking up the position at Glasgow 2026 Loretta is absolutely thrilled saying: “I’m immensely proud to be appointed as the Technical Delegate for Judo at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. This being my first appointment in the role, makes it even more special, as a home Games adds an extra layer of pride and excitement. Having the opportunity to contribute to the success of the Games in my own country is a dream come true.

“The Commonwealth Games has always held a special place in my heart, as they embody the spirit of teamwork, unity and bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and cultures. I look forward to working closely with the Organising Company, athletes and volunteers to ensure that these Games are a memorable and inspiring event for everyone involved.”

Chief Executive of Glasgow 2026 Phil Batty OBE said “Glasgow 2026 is excited to welcome the Technical Delegates appointed to the Games next summer. Officials are the cornerstone of the sporting competition and they play a key part in bringing the Games to fruition. I have no doubt that this is a moment of pride and achievement for those selected. We look forward to working with this hugely experienced group of officials to deliver an exhilarating sporting competition across 10 sports next summer.”

CEO of Commonwealth Sport Katie Sadleir CNZM said “The role of Technical Delegate is essential to ensuring world-class competition and athlete experience at Glasgow 2026. Their expertise, collaboration, and commitment will help deliver a Games that meets the highest standards of sporting excellence and inspires millions across the Commonwealth. We thank the International Federations for their nominations and we are delighted with the experienced team of delegates we will have taking part in Glasgow 2026.”

Destination Judo has put men’s mental health at the centre of their club with Head Coach Callum Woods launching Chat on the Mat initiative in Levenmouth.

Callum felt inspired after attending a The Changing Room session at Hibernian Football Club, an initiative delivered in partnership by SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) which uses football clubs as a catalyst to spark conversations about men’s mental health.  

Callum could see a lot of social parallels between the two sports and wondered if something similar could be done in judo clubs to help men improve their mental health and overall wellbeing.  Speaking about starting the Chat on the Mat at the club, Callum said: 

“What’s not to love about the sport of judo? It helps improve fitness, builds confidence, and often leads to lifelong friendships. It’s hard not to connect with someone when you’re throwing each other over your shoulder. Judo naturally breaks down barriers—both physical and emotional—making it a great space for men to talk.” 

Session attendees are actively encouraged to talk and connect with each other during the session. Within the traditional judo class set up of skills sessions and randori, there is dedicated time factored in for socialising and exploring the practical tools available to help support mental health and wellbeing.  

Callum is using his own experience with mental health alongside his tenure as a judo coach to help others who may be struggling.  

“I believe it’s important to be well-informed when it comes to mental health and mindset. With 22 years of experience coaching judo and my own personal journey with mental health, it’s great to be in a position to help others.   

“I’m a certified transformational life coach and a trained mental health first aider. Chat on the Mat is a programme that brings all of these experiences and skill sets together under one roof—combining sport, conversation, and support to create change.” 

The programme will run for 10 weeks with participants tracking their mental wellbeing with the Warwick-Edinburgh Wellbeing Questionnaire each week. It is the hope that by the end of the programme, participants will see clear improvements which can be used as evidence to support future initiatives. 

Although Chat on the Mat is still in its infancy, Callum can see huge potential for the programme moving forward.   

“After just the first session, I saw 15 strangers laughing and joking together by the end. That’s when I knew this concept has real potential to make a positive impact. 

“The feedback so far has been positive, and it’s been great to see interest within the judo community – people are genuinely curious about how the programme is going. It’s an exciting time… so watch this space!” 

If you’d like to follow the club’s journey with Chat on the Mat or would like to get in touch with Callum directly, he is happy for people to connect with him via Instagram – @‌callumwoodscoaching.   

If you’re struggling with your mental health, please know that support is available and reaching out is a sign of strength. Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, low mood, or just feeling overwhelmed, help is within reach.

• Talk to someone you trust – a friend, family member, coach, or colleague.

• Speak to your GP for professional advice and support.

• Reach out to mental health charities and helplines, such as SAMH.

Full details on the role and how to apply can be found via the Application Pack below.

Please email your completed application form and your current CV to hr@judoscotland.com by 9am on Monday 26th May 2025.

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

Dear Members,

I hope you all had a Happy Easter. Due to April being a holiday period, and I personally, being out of commission for a couple of weeks, this month’s report is a short one!

For me things started on 4th April when I had eye surgery, meaning that I was restricted to what I could do for the next couple of weeks.

Later in the month, on 22nd April, we had the British Judo Board Meeting. This is normally held in Walsall, but this session took place in London at the British Olympic Association offices. I flew down for the day to catch up with the latest news and to contribute from a JudoScotland perspective. As many of you are probably aware, British Judo are going through a restructure of their performance programme, and I’m keen to ensure that JudoScotland has input and a say in the direction of flow.

Our latest cohort of Senpai participants kicked off their journey with a residential weekend over Easter, as they begin working on projects within their clubs. I look forward to seeing what these young leaders will achieve.
It was also great to see a group of pre-cadet judoka from Pro-Judo club attend the European Judo Championships as guests of the EJU with their coach David Ferguson. They were selected by British Judo as a reward for their performance at the British Championship and had the opportunity to not only watch but train with some of the best Judoka in the world, a fantastic opportunity.

On 27th April we had the Clyde Grand Prix. I went along to the event, held in Paisley, which was excellently attended and, as always, very well run.

And, finally, the month finished up on 29th April with an online meeting of the JudoScotland Board. This was to discuss Director Portfolios, whereby each Director takes responsibility for a specific area/topic. I truly believe it will make us stronger/more efficient as a Board and would like to thank our Director, Sandy Hodge, for the excellent work he has put in to this project.

Marc Preston, 7th Dan