Judo participants meet Olympic hopefuls

Young people who have been participating in Judo coaching sessions as part of Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s Premier League 4 Sport project, have had the exciting opportunity to meet and train with three members of the Great Britain Judo team.

The event, which was held at Audley Sports Centre, was organised by the Shadsworth Beach Judo Club and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. It is part of a series of Premier League 4 Sport events being held ahead of this year’s Olympic Games in London, to raise the profile of the exciting sport of Judo.

Great Britain’s last world champion Craig Fallon, five-time world champion silver medallist Karina Bryant and Blackburn’s own Olympic hopeful Nathan Burns, put the junior judo participants through their paces in the morning and delivered a master class for adults in the afternoon. Head Judo Coach Joe Burns said, “It’s not often you get so many people from the top of their sport at one venue. The kids really enjoyed the day and it highlighted how much fun the sport can be.”

For more information on judo sessions held in Hyndburn and Blackburn, please contact the Community Trust’s Premier League 4 Sport Co-ordinator Claire Newton on 01254 296256 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or Joe Burns on 07922649403.