(Submitted Photo; left to right: Eibhleann Alexander; Sensei Justin Chan; Sensei Gilbert Mooney. Centre: Felicity Reilly)
The annual “Judoka of the Year” award has become the “Reilly Family Judoka of the Year” award.
11 year old Felicity Reilly of Frankford, a student at Sacred Heart School in Batawa, is the fourth member of her family to earn the honour awarded in the memory of the late Belleville Sports Hall of Fame member Jim Driscoll.
It is given by the Quinte Judo Club to the student that best exemplifies enthusiasm, discipline and perseverance. It includes a bursary for a chance to attend Judo camp for a week, training with former Olympians and their coaches.
Felicity Reilly’s sisters Natalie, Lydia, Lucy are previous winners of the award.
Judoka of the Year” award was started in 1987 by Sensei Mooney, while teaching Judo at the YMCA in Belleville. Given in Memory of Sensei Jim Driscoll (passed in 1984), who was a very accomplished/dedicated instructor in this area for many years. Sensei Driscoll’s dedication included: being Secretary General to Judo Canada; organized the Judo portion of the 1976 Olympics (Montreal); and received the “Order of Canada” for his dedication to youth in Judo. The Judo club changed venues several times since, in order to maintain affordability as a non-profit organization and was renamed “Quinte Judo Club” in 2009.
Presenting this year’s award was Sensei Justin Chan, of the Hayabusakan Judo Club (as well Sensei for the RMC Judo club!). Sensei Chan has trained numerous National Champions and brought along one of his students, former Woman’s -57 kg Canadian Champion Eibhleann Alexander to attend the presentation.
