|
One of British judo’s
leading referee’s, Elaine Down, has been selected to officiate
at the European Cadet Championships, the continent’s showpiece
junior event, on Saturday 25th and Sunday June 26th.
Elaine, from Middlesex,
will now take her place among the sport’s elite referees as they
take to the mat to officiate some of judo’s brightest talents.
“I’m very pleased to
have been selected, I was very much hoping to be involved,” said
Down.
“It was very important
for a British referee to be selected for such a prominent event
as the European Cadet Championships.”
Elaine has made 51 international
representations for Britain over the last 10 years, which includes
20 European events.
“The selection criteria
has changed, the European Judo Federation Referee Commission are
actually making the selections now,” she added.
“From March of this
year it’s changed so if you get selected it means you’ve been
placed among the higher echelons of officials.”
The much-travelled 3rd
Dan started her officiating career when she was a 19-year-old
player at Harmondsworth Judo Club in Middlesex after having to
retire from international competition due to a serious back injury.
“When I was at a training
session I shouted an instruction to a player and my coach said
I should start officiating.
“From there I went straight
on a weekend refereeing course and even though I was the only
woman, it still did not put me off and I fortunately passed and
then began officiating from the early 1980’s. I took my refereeing
exam at Fairholme Judo Club which was run by 8 th Dan and former
British Olympic coach Roy Inman.”
Elaine, who also works
as National Volunteer Manager for the British Judo Association,
is keen to encourage youngsters interested in the sport to take
up the rewarding role of officiating as I had a very loud voice.
“We’d certainly like
to encourage more people involved in the sport to pursue officiating.
“We offer support and
encouragement and it’s important to involve them at younger level
to enable them to develop early on so they can mature onto the
senior circuit,” she added.
For anyone interested
in trying their hand at officiating Elaine had some sound advice.
“Go on the mat because
it’s the next best thing to competing. You’re very much involved
in the action and you have just as many highs as the fighters.
“If you can work your
way up to the higher levels then you can officiate contests between
some of the world’s top players and have the opportunity to officiate
abroad.”
©
Mike Varey
|