Mayor Hosts Reception for Local Club Hazama Judo Club Maghaberry

February 4, 2016

The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council was delighted to welcome Medal Winning Judo Champion Mark Montgomery and members of his club, Hazama Judo, to Lagan Valley Island.

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.

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. 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. 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)
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

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

Members of Hazama Judo Club at a Mayoral Reception held recently in Lagan Valley Island.

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 presents Mark Spence with a momento to mark his recent award as NI Special Needs Coach of the Year.