A brief update from the JudoScotland Chair Marc Preston on activity in June.
June marked a pivotal month in the ongoing transition of the performance programme. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to the sportscotland judo coaching team; Euan Burton, Billy Cusack, and Takafumi Kitahara, for their exceptional dedication and invaluable contributions to the development of judo performance in Scotland.
As we transition to delivering the Performance Programme, you may have been aware, that the process for the two new roles of ‘Head of Performance’ and ‘Performance Pathway Support Coach’ have been live since early in the month. Personally, I’m delighted with the number of applicants we’ve had for both positions. We’re going through the application process now and the interviews will follow shortly. These two positions are critical for JudoScotland going forward, and our quest to build a strong, cohesive team. I truly believe this is a great opportunity to shape the future of the sport.
On 17th June I attended the British Judo Online Board Meeting. It was a very productive session, including an update on their restructuring, which is also nearing conclusion.
Huge congratulations to Lexi Buchanan, Coen Gilbert, and Vasiliy Menshykar for representing GB at the recent Cadet European Championships – a fantastic achievement. A special mention to Coen Gilbert, who brought home a bronze medal – a brilliant result and a great sign for future international success. Well done to Coen’s family, coach John Buchanan, and the JudoScotland Support Team – a true team effort!
And finally, good luck to the Scottish Teams and Veterans heading down to Walsall this weekend for the National Team Championships and British Veterans Championship!
Marc Preston, 7th Dan