Write a commentEarlier this month (12 March) the Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Charlie Casey hosted the Shinken Shobu Ryu Judo Club, Warrenpoint at the Council Civic Centre in Newry to celebrate its recent successes. After competing in many prestigious competitions over the past year, the club has won seven gold medals, eight silver medals and seven bronze medals.
The club was formed 45 years ago by Martin Savage, who is still a key player in the technical aspects of the club to this day, despite his retirement to France. The club endures due to its strong ethos of promoting the sport at a grass roots level. Coaches Nigel O’Neill and Dermot McCaul have recently held Judo sessions in schools in Warrenpoint and Mayobridge to try and encourage the love of the sport within young people in their local community.
Speaking at the event Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey said, “I would like to congratulate the Judo Club on all of its successes over the years. It is great to see them compete in so many competitions locally and internationally, demonstrating exceptional skills and grit in all forms of Kata. One of the Council’s key objectives is to support improved health and wellbeing outcomes within the district and it is so important that we highlight the achievements of local clubs and societies that help us deliver on these.
Cllr Charlie Casey continued, “I know Shinken Shobu Ryu Judo Club has had a very busy year in 2019 winning many medals, putting the Club on the map. For this reason, I am delighted to present the club with an engraved bowl as a token of my Council’s appreciation, and to show how proud we are of each and every one of these young ambassadors for Newry, Mourne and Down. It is evident that there is a brilliant combination of teamwork, skill, and high quality of comradeship, which have been major factors in the success and longevity of the Judo Club.”
