Audrey Pirie, a dedicated member of Elgin Judo Club, has been honoured as JudoScotland’s Referee/Official of the Year. This prestigious award is part of the JudoScotland Coaching and Volunteering Awards, a national initiative that recognises the hard work and commitment of judo’s volunteers across Scotland. 

The Referee/Official of the Year Award honours an individual who has made an outstanding impact in their role, significantly enhancing the competition structure and creating exceptional opportunities and experiences within judo. 

Audrey receiving her awardAudrey has been a true inspiration to many judo players at Elgin Judo Club, encouraging them to explore officiating as a meaningful way to stay engaged with the sport. She dedicates a significant portion of her free time to refereeing at competitions across the UK, exemplifying her unwavering commitment to the growth and development of judo. Through her efforts, several younger players at the club have been inspired to take their first steps into refereeing at local events and festivals. During competition randori sessions, Audrey not only educates participants on the rules but also emphasises the diverse opportunities to contribute to judo beyond competing, fostering a deeper appreciation for the sport.  

Audrey played a pivotal role at the Scottish Open Judo Tournament, JudoScotland’s flagship international competition, held this past weekend, the 18th and 19th of January at the sportscotland National Centre in Inverclyde. 

Audrey was nominated by members of Elgin Judo Club, stating the reasons for her nomination being: “She has, and continues to give so much of her time to judo, both at the club as a coach and as an experienced referee up and down the country at competitions. She’s a really selfless person, always encouraging all the members at the club to continue their judo journeys both as players and in how they can volunteer in other aspects of the sport like refereeing. Everything she’s done for the club has been huge, she’s inspired lots of our members to give refereeing a go.” 

Sam Ingram of JudoScotland added, “Audrey consistently goes above and beyond to support Judo events with dedication and enthusiasm. Her contributions to the sport throughout her refereeing career are remarkable, making her an invaluable member of the team.”

Audrey was presented her award at her club in Elgin by JudoScotland Club Support Officer Sam Ingram. If you would like to find out more about how you can become a Judo Technical Official click here.