Dr Colin Draycott 9th Dan

Draycott started doing judo in 1955, gaining his first black belt at the age of 20, and fourth black belt with British Judo in 1967. Draycott is a five times a national medallist, who fought in several home internationals. He was also a 1964 Olympic trialist and a medallist in the World Masters Championships in Japan, where he trained on several occasions throughout his judo career. Draycott taught judo at colleges, universities, Leicester City and the County Police. During the 1960s, Draycott was a senior referee at four National Police Judo Championships. In the early 1980s, with Brian Cox and lifetime friend Tony MacConnell, Draycott helped to form and finance the Kendal Centre of Excellence – home for 24 full time judo players at any one time, many of whom went on to become Olympians and World medallists. Draycott has devoted much of his time over the years to coaching, sponsoring and mentoring individual players. He has supported British Judo over many years; he is Patron of the British Judo Trust, a Director of the IJF Ethics Commission and Sport Director of the IJF Veterans Commission. Outside of judo Draycott is a chartered civil and chartered building engineer.