Young Judo Club & Warriors Grappling Academy Awards Night 2009
report by Colin Carrott 3rd Dan
Sittingbourne’s ladies took the Warriors Grappling Academy and Young Judo Club Awards by storm on a night that rolled back the years to a time when sports clubs were full, and social events were well supported.
The Cherry Tree Restaurant in East Street, Sittingbourne, hosted the event on Saturday 10th. January, and what a thoroughly entertaining event it turned out to be. Friends of the clubs traveled from as far a field as Nottingham, Bedford and Folkestone to attend. Several of the gentlemen wore dinner jackets and bow ties and the ladies dressed up to match.
The evening started with a three course carvery meal with a choice of four roast meats and ample vegetables to cater for every-ones taste. Over sixty club members and friends were in attendance, so the restaurant was closed to members of the public.
After the meal came the presentation, and this is where the ladies took center stage, receiving five out of eight of the top awards. They went to:
Warriors Academy Coaches Player of the Year: Debbie Jackson
Bredgar Young Judo Club Award: Helen Stevens
Sittingbourne Young Judo Club Award: Sarah Jordon
Swale Martial Arts Club Award: Vicky Franks
Spitfire Judo Club Award: Angie Hughes (Shared with her husband Geoff)
The men fought back with awards to:
Warriors Academy Players’ Player Award: Peter Wise
Oma Clarke Memorial Award: Keith Costa
Friends of the Y.J.C. Award: Russell Dodds
All these people now have their names in pride of place, as the first ones on the new honors board that is now displayed at Clarke’s Sports Studio, home of The Warriors, Y.J.C. and S.M.A.C.
A special presentation was made to Martin Clarke by members of the British Sambo Wrestling team and the Masters Sambo Wrestling team for his help and dedication in training these wrestlers for the World Championships.
As has now become a ritual, these serious awards were followed by the not so serious. These are generally for people who have done something or said something note worthy during the past year. These were:
The Quality Street Award – Hard on the outside, but with a soft center – Big John
The Playboy Pin Up Award – For his dedication to our calendar – Ken Cassel
The Sumo Wrestler Award – For being asked if he was a sumo wrestler – Pete Wise
The Ashley Costa Award – For multilingual services – Lee “Terminator” Shackstead
The You’ve Been Daved Award – For just being Dave – Dave Boulding
The Poo Face Award – For Extreme concentration – Vicky Franks
The Rip Van Winkle Award – For falling Asleep – John Clarke
The second special presentation of the evening, was made to John Clarke, by Ashley Costa – The return of his lost / forgotten silver medal from Scotland the year before.
The customary forfeit to go with these honors this year, was a drink brought back all the way from November’s visit to the World Sambo Championships in St. Petersburg, in November. A large shot of Russian vodka, containing honey and chili peppers, served over ice. Judging by the recipients faces, not a pleasant combination!!
With the awards out of the way, it was the turn of the “Judoka 5” to provide the entertainment. A five-piece group, lead by the husband of one of the Y.J.C’s coaches, Marcella Cullen. They soon had every-one on their feet dancing the night away ‘till going home time at twelve thirty. Dave Boulding revived memories from previous functions, with a special guest appearance, briefly turning the group into the “Judoka 6”!
Among the star turns on the dance floor were Val and Brenda’s jiving, aided by Dave and John and Ashley’s version of dancing on ice, John swinging Ashley to one side, through his legs etc, to the amusement of the onlookers.
John and Colin ran the raffle and raised £150.00 towards competitors travel arrangements for the World Sambo Championships and the Masters World Sambo Championships in October and November this year. Further fund raising events are planned, including a “Wine and Wisdom” evening and a summer bar-b-q, but the first one, on the 21st. February will be a “Race Night”. We hope to see a lot of you there.
Next years event promises to be even bigger, so watch this space for details.
YJC Presentation and Club Championship Photo's 2009