Local Judo clubgets recognisedwith top award

It is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The club, which has members from across Hastings and Rother, received the award from the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex at the Royal Victoria Hotel in St Leonards on October 31.

Westerleigh Judokwai is a voluntary group from Battle which works in the community to raise awareness of inclusive judo. Westerleigh is a family driven club which has approximately 100 athletes, 35% of which have a disability who train four times a week, 50 weeks a year.

Director of Westerleigh Judokwai Paula Everest said: “The award pays homage to all the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into the club over the past 20 years.

“We feel very honoured to receive such an award, it recognises all the time that has been given voluntarily by the committee, family and friends. To find out we were being awarded the Queen’s Award in the year of our 20th Anniversary we feel is an amazing achievement”.

“Peter Field, the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex, said: “I was very pleased to have made the presentation to Westerleigh Judokwai Club on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen. The award recognises the integrated work of the club and it’s volunteers in providing support and coaching to a wide range of athletes of all abilities in Judo. The Queen’s Award is a very special award for community service and the highest honour a voluntary organisation can receive. It is equivalent to a group MBE.”

This award rounds off an impressive year for Westerleigh with the club winning awards earlier in the year, and later, bringing back a new World Champion from the Special Olympic World Games in LA along with two Silver Medallists.

Westerleigh has also been shortlisted for the Sussex Sports awards, the winners will be announced on Friday November 27 following a public vote which is now open, people can vote by going onto Sussex Sports Awards Web page and following the link.

For more information on the Club visitwww.westerleighjudo.org.uk.

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