I have been coaching since the age of 16 as an assistant at my

 local club. I started up the Judo club at Hatfield Polytechnic

as a student and I was very proud to be awarded the BJA's

"Children's coach of the year" in September 2009.

Head Coach - Senior Club                                                           

Hamish Cameron – 2nd Dan BJA Level 2 Coach

I started Judo in 1982 in a north Bedfordshire village club, I have competed regionally and have won several medals as a junior and one as a senior. With my work I have lived in many different places in the UK and had great experience of many different Judo clubs. My most memorable experience was getting my 1st Dan, which was not an easy win and very hard work getting points. I joined Melbourn JC in 2000 where I have been an active senior member. Thanks to the encouragement of other members and the club I became a fully qualified club coach about two years ago and have enjoyed giving back to the club by taking senior sessions. I am still an active player and like to participate, I won promotion to my 2nd  Dan in December 2006.

 Derek Coult – 4th  Dan BJA Level 3 Coach

“I started as a Junior in 1964 in Newham, East London becoming

National Team Champions in 1967. I founded Melbourn JC in 1980,

ran six Summer Schools in Meldreth and four Exchange trips to

Holland in the 80’s. In the 90’s we took 3 squads to Osaka in Japan, training at Sunagawa International JC. I am proud to have been able

to bring International players Densign White, Neil Adams and

Billie Cusack and Jane Bridge from GB, and Koga and Nakamura

from Japan to the club. Our membership has risen greatly since we

moved to the Royston Leisure Centre, providing more

challenge and opportunity for all ages and abilities at the Club”.

Helen Ashworth - 1st Dan BJA Level 1 Coach

I started Judo in September 1982 at Melbourn Judo Club. At the

time, the Club had over 100 members and had 3 Saturday

afternoon session with 30 or so in each group. It took me almost 3 years18 months to progress to the top group, where everyone was a c

ompetition player. Around this time my Sister Erica joined the Club.

We us ed to go to about 2 events every month, and to most of them in

either hired Coaches or the Village College mini-bus. It was a very appy 9 years. The highlight of my Junior era of the Club were the 3

visits to Valkenberg in Holland visiting Hei-Sei-Do Judo Club. Those

sessions were tough. My Dad, Dave Guest who was by then on the Committee said the”Bar” activity in the evenings was just as

tough. I rejoined the club about 8 years ago, and for the last 5

years I have served on the Committee, mainly as a

representative for the Seniors. For the last 3 years I have

been Club Secretary. The highlight of my senior career was getting

my Black Belt. It made all that effort every week very worthwhile.

Iain Reid - 1st Dan BJA Level 2 Coach

I started judo at school in Scotland in 1975 at an after school club run by my Physics teacher (3rd Dan). I also joined the local club in Coatbridge, near Glasgow, called KanoKwai. This was the era of the TV series ‘Kung Fu’ starring David Carradine, when lots of kids wanted to take up martial arts. I continued Judo at Glasgow University and then at Hatfield Polytechnic, where I met Lesley and was introduced to Melbourn judo club at the summer schools. I represented Hatfield Polytechnic in the Men’s Team event at the British Universities Judo Championships. We won bronze in 1989 at Crystal Palace and gold in 1990 in Glasgow. This was special, as the medals were presented by Nobuyuki Sato, former Japanese team coach and personal coach of Yamashita.

Peter Francombe Level 2 Coach