Newbury Judo Club is recorded as far back as 1949, but records are very limited. Our more recent history starts in the 1960's at St.Mary's Hall in St.Mary's Road (long since gone I believe). Newbury JC was mainly run by a brown belt Judoka by the name of Bill Hill.
Later the club raised funds and moved to it's present location in Almond Avenue. The Club Dojo did not even exist on the present location (which was then a marshy field) until Jean Gilmour, (now Jean Beagley) secured the land which was leased from Berkshire County Council. Then came the hard work. Every one of the members of the club and the parents of the junior members chipped in. It is impossible now, to name all those who helped but we thank them all. Some were planners and others builders, electricians, plumbers and carpenters, But after the planning stage the first thing that had to to be done was to put in the foundations onto marshy ground. Then came the construction of the building itself. The whole project took months of hard work, the building itself, the electrics, the plumbing and so on until the club moved there in 1977. The club is now self sufficient and has been for many years, it is affiliated to the BJA and the coaches are mainly Dan grades who give their time voluntarily. The current parents committee run the kitchen, selling sweets and drinks, any profit they make provide items for the club e.g. crash mats etc. All monies collected is reinvested in the club to make any improvements. |
Get in touch to find out more... |
The celebration of our Dojo
Newbury Judo Club held a celebration of 40 years in their own purpose built Dojo, Poplar Place, Almond Avenue, Newbury.
The records show Newbury Judo Club started back to the 1940’s but it was some years later that Jean Beagley, the then head Coach staged a sit in at Newbury District Council until an agreement was reached and a plot of land allocated for the parents to build their own Dojo.
The Newbury coaches all give their time on a voluntary basis including coaching the players at competitions at weekends which means giving up a lot of family time but they are a dedicated crew.
This dedication has led to two of the coaches becoming British Masters (veterans) Gold medallists with a third securing a bronze & one of our coaches becoming a Masters World Champion following her previous success as British National Champion in her teens.
Over the last few years the Club has had multiple medalists at the British National Championships and in 2015 they had their first Male British National Champion at Cadet level. He then went on to become Newbury’s first European Cup medallist securing a Silver medal at the Spanish European Cup in 2016. Ranking him 14th in the world at that time. Hard work & dedication then earned him an all expenses paid training trip to Japan for 9 days with the GB Trademarks Squad.This led to him then qualifying for a part-time place at the GB Judo Academy another first for Newbury Judo Club.
We have had three players make selection for the European Cups, two of whom have also competed in the Sainsbury’s School Games with one of them securing a Bronze medal at this event.
This was then followed by the Clubs first female National Gold medallist in the Minors division and one of the squad making selection for the GB SN (Special Needs) Squad, again another Newbury first.
This year we have a new batch of Red belts starting to compete and they have been bringing home the medals in true Newbury fashion.
Our recent successes have been under Head Coach Nicki Harris who has been with the club since she was six years old. A British National Medallist herself and a GB squad member. Sadly injured out of Judo in her prime, Nicki has found her vocation coaching to a very high level. Her whole family participate in the running of the club, with her two boys also competing. Her eldest having competed at European Cup level
Newbury Judo Club held a celebration of 40 years in their own purpose built Dojo, Poplar Place, Almond Avenue, Newbury.
The records show Newbury Judo Club started back to the 1940’s but it was some years later that Jean Beagley, the then head Coach staged a sit in at Newbury District Council until an agreement was reached and a plot of land allocated for the parents to build their own Dojo.
The Newbury coaches all give their time on a voluntary basis including coaching the players at competitions at weekends which means giving up a lot of family time but they are a dedicated crew.
This dedication has led to two of the coaches becoming British Masters (veterans) Gold medallists with a third securing a bronze & one of our coaches becoming a Masters World Champion following her previous success as British National Champion in her teens.
Over the last few years the Club has had multiple medalists at the British National Championships and in 2015 they had their first Male British National Champion at Cadet level. He then went on to become Newbury’s first European Cup medallist securing a Silver medal at the Spanish European Cup in 2016. Ranking him 14th in the world at that time. Hard work & dedication then earned him an all expenses paid training trip to Japan for 9 days with the GB Trademarks Squad.This led to him then qualifying for a part-time place at the GB Judo Academy another first for Newbury Judo Club.
We have had three players make selection for the European Cups, two of whom have also competed in the Sainsbury’s School Games with one of them securing a Bronze medal at this event.
This was then followed by the Clubs first female National Gold medallist in the Minors division and one of the squad making selection for the GB SN (Special Needs) Squad, again another Newbury first.
This year we have a new batch of Red belts starting to compete and they have been bringing home the medals in true Newbury fashion.
Our recent successes have been under Head Coach Nicki Harris who has been with the club since she was six years old. A British National Medallist herself and a GB squad member. Sadly injured out of Judo in her prime, Nicki has found her vocation coaching to a very high level. Her whole family participate in the running of the club, with her two boys also competing. Her eldest having competed at European Cup level