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The British Judo Association’s
coveted Young Referee’s of the Year awards has gone to Natasha
Maslen and Matthew Dutton.
The pair will receive their
awards at the National Governing Body’s Volunteer Awards Dinner
on Saturday 2 October at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham.
Natasha was put forward
by New Star Patchway’s secretary and coach Alison Finn.
Matthew was nominated by
Free Spirit Judo Club’s president Veronica Tucker who’s also a
coach and referee.
Alison Finn has seen her
protégé thrive over the last five years at the club and become
a noted official.
“Natasha passed her first
junior official qualification at the age of 12,” said Finn.
“From the early days she
showed an outstanding ability and confidence in her main role
as a referee. She then went on to take her time keepers exam where
she used her skills at the UK School Games.
“At the age of 17 she passed
her national c referee exam and has firmly become an excellent
role model for everyone at the club.”
Free Spirit Judo Club’s
Veronica Tucker has high praise for Matthew’s development as a
referee.
“Matthew sustained a serious
injury at top level judo but always wanted to maintain his involvement
in the sport so he decided to have a go at refereeing,” she said.
“Over the period of three
years he has attained his area badge as a senior referee. His
comparison from being a junior referee to a senior referee and
his care and commitment to young judoka’s has been outstanding.
“I feel he has a lot to
offer in judo, not only as a top referee, but also as a respected
coach as his knowledge of the rules and the way he converses with
both judoka and top referee’s alike is highly commended.”
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