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Castlereagh Borough Council’s
Sports Development Association hosted a Celebration of Sporting
Achievements on Wednesday 8 June.
Murakwai Judo Club, based
in Cregagh, Ballybeen, Moneyrea & Bangor, were given four
different awards. This event happens every two years when sports
people, coaches, clubs and administrators are rewarded for achievements,
performances and dedication to their sport.
Awards were given to both
the Club and Coach Scott Mayne, for the Club’s excellent results
over the past few years. Murakwai have won six of the seven British
Championship medals that Northern Ireland has won in the past
15 years as well as Northern Ireland’s only Junior or Senior International
medals in the last five years.
At the recent Northern
Ireland Trials, Murakwai reaffirmed their status as one of the
NIJF’s leading clubs after claiming 37 medals. In the last year
the club has won an impressive seven golds at the Irish Open in
Dublin and brought home lots of medals from the Ulster Schools,
Leinster Open, Cavan Open, North West Open & Irish Schools.
Head Coach Scott Mayne,
who was recently appointed Northern Ireland Junior Squad Coach,
has been Head Coach at Murakwai for the past 10 years and also
coaches several classes per week in local Primary Schools which
act as feeder clubs into Murakwai. This is the 2nd time Scott
has received an award from Castlereagh as he also awarded Junior
Coach of the year in 2009.
In addition to the Team
Award and Junior Coach Award twoplayers from the Club were recognised
for their Individual Achievements. Cameron Kelly has had an excellent
last 18 months. Cameron, who is only 12, already has a British
Championship Bronze medal to his name has recently won several
titles in Ireland including the NI Trials (Cadet & Junior
despite his age), the Irish Open, Leinster Open, Cavan Open &
Ulster Schools. As well as his success in local & Irish events,
Cameron also medalled in two British ranking events winning Bronze
in the North West Open and a Silver in the Welsh Open.
Jodie Kee is another player
who has had an excellent last 18 months. Last year Jodie narrowly
missed out on winning the GB Cadet trials which would have seen
her represent GB at the European Cadets, she was Northern Ireland’s
only representative at the trials where she finished in 2nd place.
Jodie also claimed her first International Gold winning in Lanester,
France and won an impressive three Golds at last year’s Irish
Open, winning the Cadet (u17), Junior (u20) & Senior categories.
Jodie is currently the only NIJF member to be funded by Sport
NI’s Athlete Investment Program and the only judo player to train
in a Performance Development Centre in NI. This is also the 2nd
time that Jodie’s achievements have been recognised by Castlereagh
as she too was awarded female player of the year in 2009.
Murakwai Judo Club would
like to thank Castlereagh Sports Development Association for their
continued help and support.
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