BJA Awards: Successful Night for Drake
Saturday the 3rd of November saw most of the DJC Committee head up to Nottingham for the BJA Annual Awards where Drake had been nominated in two categories
This was the second year in a row that Drake had been shortlisted after we took 2 bronze awards in 2017(for Club of the Year and Volunteer of the Year for Dan)
The day started with Mini Bus drivers Mike and Tony sharing the work to get everyone to the event in Nottingham City Centre where the hotel was situated, sadly due to an height restricted carpark the Mini Bus had a little boo boo when Mike clattered it turning round in a tight space.
The evening involved drinks and dinner alongside award presentation. It also gave the chance for the committee to chat with other Judo personnel from other clubs across the country, Roz especially was in her element as a lot of the guests were in and around the British Squad when she was.
Our first award of the evening that Drake had involvement in was for 'Welfare Officer of the Year'
This saw DJC WO Jess Frise nominated, prior to the result being announced jokes were made that when DJC was founded Ross & Charles had asked Jess to be Welfare Officer assuring her the role required little work! this of course was extremely inaccurate and DJC has made Welfare our top priority (above and beyond everything else) and though sometimes has to take the ''PC Brigade'' and ''Red Tape'' comments she always fastidiously sticks to BJA and DJC policy and reminds our personnel of the reasons why they are in place.
It was hugely satisfying then when it was announced that Jess had won and was BJA Welfare Officer of the Year'' this is a huge achievement and a testament to her hard work, in a pleasant twist of fate, Carrie from Kazoku Judo Club took Silver and as a friend of the club and West member this was also extremely pleasing
Next up was 'Community Club of the Year' DJC had taken a Bronze in this category last year and we were hopeful of perhaps doing slightly better this year... it was not to be but everyone was extremely pleased to take Bronze for the 2nd year running (less than 3 years after our club was founded)
it was noted that Charles and Ross were already discussing 'upping their game' for 2019!
We did think that the night had now been completed(for Drake anyway) as we had our two nominated categories but in a very pleasing surprise the prestigious 'Presidents Award' was won by the 'Kids Dream Team' from the Jamie MacDonald Fundraising Competition earlier in the year which featured 2 DJC players Jake Brown and Alanna Hopkins. Wendy and Deryn were both recognised at the awards too for all of their hard work this year which was very pleasing to see
With that the party got in full swing and rumours of dancing with Nekoda Davis and Loretta Doyle were unsubstantiated.
A Big Thankyou to DJC Development Officer Andy Hay who because of ironically Judo commitments was unable to make the ceremony for writing all the nominations which have for 2 years now been so well received.
Also it was wonderful to see success for the Western Area, including awards for Andy Scott, Lisa Oram and Amber Pascoe. This seemed to make WA Chairman Dave Allen very pleased!