Sturton Judo Club welcomed Paralympian and European Silver Medallist Jack Hodgson to the club to see their new safety mats which were made possible thanks to fundraising support.

Jack who has been practising judo since the age of seven, also took the opportunity to coach members of the club, during his visit.

The club, which is an established member of the British Judo Council was delighted to welcome Jack who made his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 at just 19-years-old.

Sue Dooley, who sits on the Sturton Judo Club committee, praised Jack for how he involved with members and said the new mats have “secured the future of Sturton Judo club”.

Sturton Judo Club welcomed Paralympian and European Silver Medallist Jack Hodgson to the club to see their new safety mats

placeholder image — Sturton Judo Club welcomed Paralympian and European Silver Medallist Jack Hodgson to the club to see their new safety mats

She said: “Sturton Judo Club was part of Jack Hodgson’s judo journey growing up. He lived in Gainsborough and trained at SJC and still finds time in his busy schedule to return to his roots and pass on his wealth of knowledge and expertise.

“Without the new mats, the students would not have been able to continue training and the existence of the club would have been in serious jeopardy.”

It was a double celebration for the club, whose members were able to use the brand new, safety approved judo mats which cost around £20,000.

Through an impressive combination of community fundraising and external support, the club was able to replace mats that had become worn, taped together, and no longer suitable for safe training.

Alongside the new mats, Sturton Judo Club is also celebrating three of its junior players, Henry, Bella and Lily, making it to the final shortlist of Junior Player of the Year at the British Judo Council Annual Awards in March.

Matthew Williamson, head coach at Sturton Judo Club, said: “We are very grateful to West Lindsey District Council for their support. The new mats will allow us to expand our training capacity, run additional sessions and host more competitions and events.

“This not only benefits our current members by improving training quality and safety but also allows us to open our doors to more people in the local community who want to get involved in judo, fitness and positive social activity.

“Everyone involved at the club wants to give a special thanks to West Lindsey District Councillor Cynda Mullally, who has provided us with unwavering support and encouragement throughout.”

The club which runs from the Village Hall offers classes to members from as young as four-years-old to junior and senior members. They raised more than £4,000 through community efforts and received additional funding from several partner organisations including West Lindsey District Council.

Coun Lynda Mullally, West Lindsey District Council’s ward member for the Stow ward, said: “We are proud to support projects like this that make a real difference to people’s health and wellbeing.

“Safe, accessible spaces for physical activity are vital for our communities, and the club’s dedication in securing this funding shows just how important this facility is to local families. These new mats will help more people stay active, build confidence, and enjoy the positive benefits of sport.”

This investment marks an important step forward for the club as it continues to expand opportunities for people of all ages to take part in judo within a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment.