Samurai Judo Club has been the second club in the history of the British Judo Association to be awarded the Clubmark Gold Award, the top award in the BJA Club Recognition Scheme, it is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a BJA club.

After Dartford Judo Club, who got the Gold award earlier this year, the Samurai achieved the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards all within one year. The award recognises all the hard work and dedication all of the members of Samurai Judo Club do to promote judo both in the local area and nationally.

Part of the club's development to achieve this award, a number of coach and volunteer education courses had to be attended, huge thanks go to the following club members who attended these: Stuart Lane, Carol Leverton, Sarah Newbury, Andrew Haffner, Ben Newbury, Malcolm Limrick and Stefan Newbury.

Chief coach Andrew Haffner said, "we are extremely pleased to gain this prestige award. We would like to feel that it reflects the wide range of activities we are involved in: as well as having competitive players at all levels, we are also heavily involved in producing tournament organisers, table staff and referees, both adult and junior, and we have a long history of promoting kata, veterans judo and technical and recreational judo. We try to cater for all interests and all levels, and give everybody a field they can achieve in, as well as supporting other clubs and organisations in their judo activities.

"We also hope that the gold award reflects the professional and energetic approach of the club's administrators. In particular, much credit must go to Stefan Newbury for his huge efforts on this project.

"Hopefully, in the next year or so we will have built our new premises with much improved facilities, which will enable us to extend our activities still further. It is never a good idea to stand still!"