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Pudsey Judo Club is leaving
Pudsey Leisure Centre, their home of 25 years, to move to a facility
with a permanent matted area.
The highly-regarded Yorkshire
clubs first session at Flex Gymnasium will take place on Tuesday
9 November.
Pudsey’s new setting
will see the Olympic sport practiced in a fully matted sports
hall which is punctuated by original
oak beams, golden sandstone walls and masses of light and space.
Pudsey, who hold a bronze
clubmark, a quality accreditation recognised by the British Judo
Association and Sport England which recognises good practice,
will now be able to offer more classes and according to head coach
Neil Fletcher will make judo more accessible in the city.
“Moving to our new venue
is a very exciting time for Pudsey Judo Club,” said Fletcher.
“Having been at the local
leisure centre for 25 years I have finally found a great location
for the club. The biggest benefit is the permanent mat area. Having
laid 160 judo mats out twice a week and put them away after every
session, we'll finally be free of moving mats.
“This means more access
to mat time and subsequently more sessions for our juniors. We
intend to have several sessions for each age group and add additional
days.”
Fletcher believes the club’s
young ranks can make the new venue their own and the move will
also aid his older players who are pushing for international selection.
“As a coach, I think the
atmosphere at the dojo will be far superior to the previous sports
hall. The children will make the venue their own and it’ll quickly
become a place they want to come and be a part of.
“At the higher end of the
scale I have some older boys who are knocking on the door of the
national team. Our new centre will allow them to train more and
develop their judo skills.”
Beginners will also benefit
from the venues sprung floor which will enable them to ease their
way into the art of break falling while the permanent facility
is also being tipped to attract more children from local schools.
“We are working with the
British Judo Association’s Technical Officer Dermot Heslop and
Development Officer Jeff Hynds to approach local schools and encourage
them to participate in judo.”
“Leeds is a huge untapped
city for judo and we’re now in a great position to really make
a mark in the city.”
Pudsey Judo club will
now train at Flex Gymnasium, Cape Industrial Estate, Coal Hill
Lane, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5NA. Seniors will train a Tuesday at
19:30 – 21:00 while juniors will take to the mat on a Friday at
19:00 – 20:30.
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