Walderslade Judo Club were recognised twice in the Medway Sports Awards in Rochester, Kent on Friday 7 December.

These prestigious awards were hosted by Olympian Steve Backley and Paralympian and C4 London 2012 Paralympics presenter Danny Crates.  A number of Olympic and Paralympic team members were present at the event but the evenings special guest was London 2012 super heavyweight Olympic boxing champion Anthony Joshua, who took time to talk a bit about his London 2012 experience and to chat to some of those present.

Chris Riley, who leads a number of the club’s sessions and who took responsibility for the clubs recent inclusion programme group was rewarded for his hard work and dedication to the coaching of judo at the club by taking the top spot in his category and being voted Medway Coach of the Year.  

With one trophy in the bag the clubs volunteers and coaches present at the event waited patiently for the Club of the Year award to be announced.  With another five of Medway’s biggest sports clubs also shortlisted for the award it was always going to be a tough category to win, but when the results were finally announced the clubs coaches were over the moon to have been voted runners-up in the Club of the Year category, just pipped to the top slot by Medway Dragons Rugby League Football Club. 

Another excellent result for the local club which now has over 120 members and goes from strength to strength.  In conjunction with the BJA the club is running an adult beginners course in the New Year and is actively seeking to build on its success with its growing senior class.  Anyone interested can contact the club through its website at www.waldersladejudo.co.uk