Mayor welcomes Hazama Judo Club members for special reception

Medal winning judo champion Mark Montgomery and members of his club, Hazama Judo, were welcomed to Lagan Valley Island by the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council for a reception recently.
The Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett and Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Leisure & Community Development Committee present a brass plaque to the Committee and Volunteers of Hazama Judo Club Maghaberry.The Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett and Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Leisure & Community Development Committee present a brass plaque to the Committee and Volunteers of Hazama Judo Club Maghaberry.
The Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett and Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Leisure & Community Development Committee present a brass plaque to the Committee and Volunteers of Hazama Judo Club Maghaberry.

Aghalee man Mark Montgomery won double gold at the World Police and Fire Games in 2013 and he also retained his titles in 2015.

Mark is also British, European & Commonwealth Masters Champion and World Masters Bronze Medallist.

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The Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett, speaking about the reception said: “It was an honour to have Mark, his fellow coaches and some of his students to a reception in the Council’s Civic Headquarters.

“Mark is a committed sportsman and is responsible for encouraging many young people from the Council area to share his passion for judo,” he said.

“In fact he won Coach of the Year three times at the annual Lisburn City Council Sports Awards.Hazama Judo caters for children from five years of age and operates from over 12 training locations.

“Within the Council area residents can learn judo in Maghaberry, Moira, Lisburn, Hillsborough, Castlereagh, Dundonald and Moneyreagh.

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“According to Mark judo is many things to different people: it is a fun sport, a martial art, a recreational or social activity, a fitness programme and a means of self-defence or combat.

“I wish Mark and his coaching team every continued success in the years ahead and encourage them to keep up the good work and winning medals, awards and accolades,” concluded Councillor Beckett.

Over the past few years the Club members have won many accolades including:

• Mark Spence, NI Special Needs Coach of the Year

• British & European Special Needs Championships (first ever for NI)

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• Two British National Age Band Champions (NI has only ever had three)

• Over 15 British National medals

• NI’s first and only Sainsbury’s School Games Gold

• Several international medals in Holland, France, USA

• Six British School Champions

• Dozens of British Ranking Event Medals

• Dozens of NI Championships every year

• Two times Castlereagh Borough Council Coach of the Year Scott Mayne.

Judo is many things to different people. It is a fun sport, a martial art, a recreational or social activity, a fitness program, and a means of self-deference or combat.

Judo is accessible to players of all ages, of both sexes and to those with many disabilities. As a sport it has much to offer, including developing physical and mental co-ordination, keeping fit, or just having fun.

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The Hazama Judo Club runs in Maghaberry Community Centre on a Tuesday evening at the following times:

6:00pm – 7:00pm (Children aged 5 – 9 yrs)

7:00pm – 8:00pm (Children aged 10 – 13 yrs)

8:00pm – 9:00pm (Teenagers over 14 yrs).

Hazama Judo Club integrate Special Needs Judo into every class they run.

However, the club believe there is a need and social responsiblilty for clubs to offer judo to children and adults with more severe levels of need, who are unable to fit into a mainstream class.

Due to this, the club offer Simply Judo, which allows those with all levels of need and ability to enjoy the sport.

If you are interested in participating in this sport please log on to http://maghaberrycommunitycentre.co.uk/hazama-judo/ for further information.