JUDO practitioners have bowed their heads in respect to the local community who raised £5,000 to help them fight another day.

Based at Llanrhystud Village Hall since 2014, interest soon took off and within a year Ceredigion Judo Club was forced to relocate after the safe capacity was reached.

But moving to a bigger facility brought with it a need for more equipment and thus more money, a necessity which Sensei Gareth Sealey said needed to be met quickly.

“By November, with a waiting list for members growing, I recognised that the club needed to move to a new venue in order to grow,” said Mr Sealey, who is a ‘Second Dan Judoka’, having studied at Kodokan and Budo international university in Japan.

“In December 2015, I made contact with the committee of Llanon Village Hall who were open to the Judo Club using its space.

“In addition to extra space for training that the hall could offer, there was also the offer of changing and cleaning facilities, and better facilities for parents who choose to stay and watch their kid’s classes.”

Mr Sealey said the club adopted a two-phase approach to increasing the capacity for new members, with the first phase aiming to raise £2,000 to buy enough mats to replicate the capacity of Llanrhystud Village Hall.

“A plan to raise the funds required was quickly developed,” Mr Sealey continued. “Parents and members mobilised, with donations being made by local businesses, such as Cambrian Garages and Statkraft.

“Aberystwyth Lions Club donated around £200, and Llanrhystud Post Office and Stores donated the prize and sold the tickets for a Christmas hamper raffle. On the Saturday before Christmas, parents and kids packed bags at the Aberystwyth Co-op, raising £450.”

After successfully completing phase one, the club immediately moved on to phase two, which aimed to raise £3,000 to buy more mats and increase the capacity.

Mr Sealey added: “Through working with Steve Jones, Sports Development Officer at Ceredigion County Council, the club was awarded a grant of £1,500.

“Further support from Aberystwyth Co-op, as well as from other small businesses in Ceredigion meant the target was met by mid-March and, by early April, the project was complete.

“This has provided training space for up to 35 junior members and 20 adults, as well as timing equipment for the club and a stock of Judo clothing that can be offered to people who wish to come and try Judo, so that access to the sport is available for everyone without having to purchase specialist equipment.”

Mr Sealey said: “Budokan Ceredigion Judo Club would like to thank the local community and businesses for their support.”

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