Frazer McBeath, a dedicated member of Alness and Evanton Judo Club, has been honoured with JudoScotland’s Lifetime Contribution Award. This prestigious award is part of the JudoScotland Coaching and Volunteering Awards, a national initiative that recognises the hard work and commitment of judo volunteers across Scotland.
Frazer picked up this award for the power of work he has done in guiding and inspiring generations of judoka at both Alness Judo Club and Evanton Judo Club where he has been a devoted coach for nearly 30 years.
Frazer first took to the mat in his youth alongside his brother but stepped away from the sport as he entered adulthood. After a near miss where he fell from some scaffolding, he instinctively went into a forward breakfall and walked away from the incident with nothing but two scrapped elbows.
Realising that he used his judo knowledge to help him escape a nasty accident, this inspired him to step back onto the mat and the spark he had for judo was reignited. Setting his sights on getting his blackbelt, Frazer started training at Invergordon Judo Club and as of today has achieved his 3rd Dan.

Wanting to give back to his local judo community he started coaching at Alness Judo Club where he later became head coach, running multiple sessions a week. He soon became a coaching powerhouse in the highlands as he also took on the role of head coach for Evanton Judo Club. His passion, commitment, and expertise have made a lasting impact on his clubs and the wider Scottish judo community, both on and off the mat, making Frazer a well deserving winner of the Lifetime Contribution Award.
Members at Alness Judo Club had nothing but the highest praise for Frazer as he was presented with his award during a training session this week emphasising his dedication to inspiring young judoka at the club:
“His commitment to the club over the years and to the children is amazing. He’s here every week no matter what and has so much patience with the children. He can always see who needs that little extra bit of support and he’ll make sure to go to them and give them that one-to-one to bring them up to speed and build their confidence.”
Another parent added, “He puts his heart and soul into it, both my son’s started with him, and I started coaching because of him. My eldest son is on the Judo High Performance Programme now and started judo because of Frazer. He started coming here when he was four and a half years old, and he’s worked his way up and it was Frazer that put him on the mat first.”

Frazer has been a mentor to many coaches at the club and as he takes a step back from the head coach role, he is passing the baton over to his son, Frazer Jr. and others to continue to inspire young judoka. Frazer will remain active in the club, lending a hand at sessions and offering coaching advice and knowledge that he has honed over his years of experience.
It is not only Frazer’s dedication as a coach which earned him this national accolade but also his commitment to officiating. He has officiated at every level of JudoScotland events, from helping young judoka take their first steps onto the mat at Keizoku to refereeing at JudoScotland’s flagship event, the Scottish Open.
Sam Ingram of JudoScotland added: “To see mutli-generational judoka on the mat is a testament to the culture that Frazer has created at the club. Hearing of parents who were coached by Frazer who now send their children to the club really highlights Frazer’s coaching expertise and the positive, safe environment he has created.
“It was a pleasure to present Frazer with this award and to see firsthand at the club the respect and admiration that all the members have for him, he is a thoroughly deserving recipient.”
Frazer was presented his award at his club in Alness by JudoScotland Club Support Officers Sam Ingram and Laura Kirkhouse on Tuesday 28th January 2025.