(Sensei Dave Sheppard, Lucy Reilly & Sensei Gilbert Mooney. Photo submitted)
The Quinte Judo Club has named 8-year-old Lucy Reilly as the 2020 “Judoka of the Year”.
Lucy was the unanimous choice for the one time honour awarded annually to the member who best exemplifies enthusiasm, discipline and perseverance.
Judo is a Reilly family affair. All three of Lucy’s sisters and her father are members of the Quinte Judo Club.
The award was presented by Sensei Dave Sheppard.
“Judoka of the Year” is given in memory of the late Sensei Jim Driscoll (passed in ‘82). Driscoll was secretary to Judo Canada and organized the Judo portion of the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. For his dedication to youth in teaching Judo, he was awarded the “Order of Canada”. Driscoll is also a member of the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame.
When not in the current lockdown, the Quinte Judo Club meets twice a week in the hall of the Quinte Masonic Temple in Frankford. This is an all-ages class, promoting family participation. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has the Dojo temporarily shut down, and classes have been very limited in size/participation with the current restrictions. There has been a waiting list from the start of the season, which got extended when class size was limited to 10 participants.
For more information about Judo, follow the Quinte Judo club’s Face Book page, or call 613-922-5192.
