Ryecroft Judo Club, Beeston, Nottingham

What-a-day!!

Team RJC took on the Ares Premierships this saturday coming away with another bronze medal. Although the team didn’t leave with what they wanted (🥇) the sportsmanship and team support from the crowd was excellent. Leading up to the event we had a few team player changes but in the end worked out in our favour. Thankyou to the fighters - Sam Watson & Sam Hall (-66) Evie Mitchell (-57) Tommy Jackson (-73) Leah Starmore & Lucy Day (-63) Eric Ham (-81) Joe Kirk & Dan Powell (-90) Ollie Barrat (+90). Thankyou guys for stepping up for the team and going out there and putting on an amazing fight. Thankyou to coaches Jamie Johnson and Ian Oliver who helped guide the team to bronze but also gave strategy and kept players calm and composed. Our Young Player of the night award was awarded to Evie Mitchell and well deserved, with just only turning 15 couple days before the comp she went out there and not only had to fight world class players but nearly scoring against them too so well done evie. Thank you to our sponsors again this year for helping sponsor us for this event we also couldn’t have done it without you:)! Thankyou to parents , kids and any other supporters from our club who came down to support the team on this journey. And also thankyou to Nathan & Ami for getting some videos and pics and behind the scene footage of the team. There will be a video posted soon of the team and how they did so be sure to look out for that the next couple of days. And last but not least thankyou to and for this amazing event, keep it going boys we would love to be there for every single one. Ares for the win next year it is ours🫣camberley you’re going down!!!💪🥇🔴⚫️

Team Ryecroft a well earned 3rd place at the Ares Judo Premier League 2026.

With some amazing battles through the day against the best in the UK.

Congrats Team.

Some highlights below 👇🏼

Ares Judo - we're ready. Let's go. 🥋 🥇 🖤 ♥️

The 3rd Premier League for Judo in the UK. Can Ryecroft JC hold on or better last year's 3rd place.

Good Luck to our warriors;

Sam Hall
Sam Watson
Tommy Jackson
Eric Ham - Captain
Joe Kirk
Ollie Barratt
Evie Mitchel
Lucy Day
Leah Star more

Coaches:

Jamie Johnson
Ian Oliver

Ryecroft Judo Club, Beeston, Nottingham

fans

Plus 50 super-fans on the road to show their support at the venue. We will be bringing the noise, 🖤 ♥️

Thanks for our Sponsors for 2026/27.

Plumbing and Heating. Nottingham.
Glossop

!!ARES WEEKEND!!
This weekend we take on the Ares Premiership, we would love to see as many RJC fans there as possible let’s fill the building with red and black💪 We are one of the first fights on and fights start at 12 so would love to see everyone there as early as possible! RJC for the win💪🔴⚫️

we are open Bank Holiday Monday - We never close💪 times as shown above any questions feel free to drop us a message. Please bring water as it will be a warm one tomorrow- see you all then 💪🔴⚫️

Notice to All;

Ryecroft Judo Club has been established since 1954 and, throughout the decades, has regularly helped produce judoka of the highest calibre.

Today, we run 15 sessions a week across our programme, including performance-led sessions for cadets, juniors and seniors. Naturally, that attracts athletes from across the region.

We’re different — and that’s absolutely fine.

The reality is that very few clubs or coaches can genuinely provide everything an athlete needs across their entire journey from beginner to elite senior level. Athletes grow at different rates, need different environments, and benefit from exposure to different training partners, coaching styles and opportunities.

That includes us at Ryecroft.

When one of our athletes reaches a point where another environment may help them develop further, we encourage it. Likewise, athletes from many other clubs regularly come and train with us alongside their home club.

A large number of clubs and coaches locally embrace this approach, and we actively send players both directions depending on what is best for the athlete. That is exactly how healthy development pathways should work.

Train with us, and we’ll support you like one of our own. We won’t be apologising for celebrating the success of athletes who train with us, regardless of whether they are also members elsewhere.

That isn’t “poaching”. That’s simply recognising the hard work and progress of people who walk through our doors every week.

The truth is, the coaches with the most open mindset usually have the least issue with athletes travelling around. They understand that development is bigger than one club, one coach or one postcode.

Unfortunately, it is sometimes your closest neighbours who struggle most with that idea — but that isn’t our problem to solve.

Our job is to help athletes improve, enjoy their judo journey, and reach their potential wherever that may eventually take them.

Ryecroft will continue to welcome players from all clubs, continue supporting ambitious athletes, and continue building an environment where people are encouraged to grow — not held back.

congratulations and well done to everyone who competed over the weekend we had some fab results. We had Zach and Marcel fighting in Antwerp Marcel with a 9th place finish and Zach with a 7th. Then at the London Open we had Ellie who took a gold , Evie who took silver and Dylan although he did not place still went and fought his best. well done to you all you should all be proud of yourselves and goes to show that your hard work in training is paying off. 💪🔴⚫️

Well done to Ellie on her gold medal at samurai today. Both Ellie and Charlie fought over the weekend and came back with excellent results😎well done again guys and good luck to you all fighting on saturday at the London Open💪🔴⚫️

Well done to Charlie today winning gold at samurai. the effort you put into your training will be the result that you get at the end of it. 💪⚫️🔴