On Saturday 23rd September SKK Judo Club officially unveils its new £1 million facility based in Earlstown, Newton-Le-Willows, where it hopes to produce even more Judo champions.

The club boasts: two contest areas on a sprung floor; Olympics weights gymnasium; male and female showers and changing rooms; disabled changing facilities; an office, kitchen and physio room as well as the latest video analysis system and WiFi broadband network.

The new facility was made possible by £818,000 funding from Sport England’s Community Club Development Fund, as well as SKK Judo Club who owned the old Judo club and land on which the new facility has been built on. There has been additional funding from Sport Relief, St Helens Council and Helena
Housing to purchase specialised training equipment not included in the budget.

The successful club has produced many champions including: Olympian Nigel Donohue (1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta) - who recently returned to be Performance Coach at the Club. Donohue was also European Champion in 1995 and 1993 Paris Tournament Champion.

Former British internationals make up the rest of the coaching team - Peter Blood as Head Coach, while Dermot Heslop and Kerry Manfredi are both Development Coaches. Former Olympian Michelle Rogers (1996 Atlanta) was produced by the club and was World Student Champion and European medallists. Rogers now trains full trains full time in Edinburgh.

The club continues to produce up and coming British talent and most recently Owen Livesey represented Great Britain at the 2006 European Cadet Championships and Abbie Cunningham in the 2006 Junior European Championships. Abbie will also compete in the forthcoming Junior World Championships next month in the Dominican Republic. There is also future potential coming through the club as the young members achieved a medal haul at last weekend’s Heart of England Tournament at Birmingham’s National
Indoor Arena.

Guests at the opening will include: the Chairman of the British Judo Association; Clint Godfrey (Sport England); Councillor Teresa Simms (St Helens Council); Julie Fraser (Head of Education - St Helens); Dave Boocock (Head of Youth and Sports Development – St Helens) as well as the main contractors who built the project.

The official opening will be marked with a plaque unveiling at 13.20 by Mr John Redhead, a lifetime member of SKK Judo. If it was not for his dedication and support, SKK would not be where it is today.

Peter Blood, SKK Judo says “This project has been a dream of mine since I took up coaching some 20 years ago. I had two ambitions back then, to help someone qualify for the Olympic Games and own my own Judo Club. I have achieved both, but now, through the support of Sport England and the British Judo Association, we have a World Class facility where the goal is to produce future European, World and Olympic medallists for 2012 and beyond. Additionally, this new facility will provide existing members and the local community with an opportunity to enjoy their Judo in a well organised and structured Judo club which is by far one of the best training facilities in the country.”

Densign White, Chairman of the British Judo Association says: “The new venue, which is a credit to the club, offers some of the best training facilities in the country and will be valuable for our grass roots participants right through to elite athletes. There is no doubt that these facilities will be important to British athletes training towards the 2008 Olympics, as well as those aspiring to represent their country in 2012 and
beyond.“

Stewart Kellett, Regional Director, Sport England North West: “We are committed to supporting sports clubs across the North West, so they like SKK Judo, can encourage people into sport at all levels, and produce champions. Over the last few years we have invested over £10.5m in 146 projects across the region, through the Community Club Development Fund. This investment of over £818,000 helps ensure that SKK Judo’s facilities are some of the best in the country, benefiting thousands of people.”