News

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

Throughout February and March, JudoScotland was proud to team up with amazing judo clubs from across the country to take part in five Scottish Disability Sport Parasport Festivals. Together, we helped introduce hundreds of children to the exciting world of judo, many for the very first time! 

The Parasport Festivals are all about giving young people with physical, sensory (including vision and hearing), or learning disabilities the chance to try out a wide variety of inclusive, fun, and safe sports. Led by friendly, qualified local coaches, each session is designed to be welcoming and supportive ensuring that every child feels included, valued, and empowered to take part. 

But it’s not just about sport. These events are about building confidence, sparking new friendships, and creating memories that last. For many children, the Parasport Festivals offer a chance to connect with others who understand their experiences and to feel a real sense of belonging—on and off the mat. 

Stephen Somerville, JudoScotland’s Disability Development Officer, shared: 

“The Parasport Festivals are a brilliant way for young people and coaches to grow and learn together. Judo really is for everyone, and it’s a joy to see its values—like respect, courage, and friendship—being lived out in such a vibrant and inclusive way. We’re honoured to play a part in something that brings so many smiles and so much growth.” 

A huge thank you goes out to Tayside Judo Club, Jidel Judo, and Castle Douglas Judo Club. Your energy, support, and dedication helped make these events such a fantastic success! 

“I am very proud of the pupils and I’m very proud of the community that we are becoming as a result of being involved in this project.”  Bart, Active Schools Coordinator  

“It has changed them massively. I can’t recommend this highly enough” Sharon McDonald, Pupil Support Assistant 

One year on from launching their joint project with Perth & Kinross Active Schools, Perth Grammar School is celebrating the powerful impact of using judo to empower young people.

Tayside Judo Club sessions based at Perth Grammar School offer more than just physical activity; it fosters community integration, supports mental health and wellbeing, and helps develop key employability and life skills. At its heart, the project is about building stronger, more connected communities through the values of judo.

Each week throughout the academic year, targeted pupils including those who can’t access a traditional classroom setting take part in judo and strength and conditioning sessions. These sessions go beyond promoting physical fitness, they offer a valuable platform for learning and personal development, grounded in the core values and principles of judo, such as mutual respect and making a positive contribution to society.

In partnership with Enable Works Scotland and sportscotland Modern Apprentice Programme we are excited to welcome Emma McInulty to the team.

Emma joined JudoScotland on 31st March 2025 to begin her 18-month apprenticeship with the JudoScotland Business Support Team, supporting with membership services, administration and JudoScotland events.

Working in collaboration with both sportscotland and ENABLE Works, the goal of the Modern Apprentice Programme is to support a young person with disabilities into employment to gain valuable work experience whilst simultaneously gaining a qualification.

Disabled people are often underrepresented across all aspects of the sporting system, therefore this scheme aims to identify ways of diversifying the workforce and recruiting more young people into jobs.

In addition to completing their qualification and gaining experience in the workplace, the young people will also be invited to networking events quarterly to meet with other apprentices to share experiences and build a support network to share ideas and offer support to each other.

The initiative is led by sportscotland and Enable Works with the support of employers such as JudoScotland. JudoScotland is one of several Scottish Governing Bodies, Local Authorities and National Partners who were approached to participate in the scheme. Through the programme, JudoScotland will have access to a suite of workshops and CPD opportunities on inclusivity.

Speaking about her new role Emma shared her excitement to get started:

“I’m really excited to join JudoScotland and get stuck into my new role. I think it will really help me to grow my confidence in the workplace and gain an extra qualification.

“The thing I am most looking forward to is helping with events. I’ve volunteered at a couple of JudoScotland events in the past so I’m quite interested in seeing how they come together in the background and all the work that goes into making them possible.”