On the 24th September 2017 Elaine Down announced that she would be stepping down as the NHC Director of Refereeing and was retiring from all refereeing activity. Elaine was an IJF International Referee who officiated at countless high profile international events. Nick Fletcher the NHC Chair thanked Elaine for her many years of service, dedication and support to the NHC at Area level. The article below provides a brief insight into Elaine’s career.
Elaine Down spoke of her Journey to the top of Judo Referee Tree, to Donna Richardson (Britishjudo.org.uk) during 2013. Elaine has carved a name for herself as one of Britain’s best IJF referees, being one of only two British female “IJF A classes” in the very male dominated world of judo.
During her 36-year career as a referee, the former GB international has refereed and judged at over 70 international tournaments representing Team GB. In fact, she switched to refereeing at the age of 19, after being forced to retire from competitive judo due to injury.
“Refereeing is the next big thing you can do after competing,” said Elaine.
“As a referee of course you are responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view. However, because you are matside you can feel the energy, passion and determination of each and every player, as well as enjoy superb judo.”
Starting out as a referee during the late seventies, Elaine was one of the few female judo referees at the time and the only female referee in her Area. She was one of the second generation of female woman to become a referee at the highest level in the World.
She worked her way up the refereeing ladder while at the same time working full time, raising four children and later becoming a grandmother to six. She met her husband, also an international referee through judo who has supported her unconditionally over the years.
However, she shared some of the challenges she has faced along the way in the judo world as a woman.
“Judo has always been and still is a male dominated sport. Women can go out and succeed but they have to be twice as good as the men,” she said.
“Of course things are different today, we have strong female characters in the sport, including Olympic medallists such as in Kate Howey, Gemma Gibbons, Karina Bryant and Sally Conway.
“However, in terms of referees, we still haven’t got enough female talent in Great Britain at the highest level.”
“I feel that people need to be aware of the pathways into refereeing never the less there are no easy routes for females at the top level”.
You will see at most top level European and World Championships, only one or two of the referees are female.
“I have refereed at many events in Europe and have many times been the only woman there,” she revealed. “Most notably for myself in Great Britain at the Manchester 2002 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games”.
She also explained that it is important to be the best at your game.
“To referee at these sorts of events is the pinnacle of the sport and you have to be on the ball and be dedicated to maintain your standard”. Many personal sacrifices have been made to stay at the top and along the way to the top.
“If you make just one error you can be pulled up and there is the possibility you will not be selected for the final block. It is very important to be thorough and accurate, there is no room for second chances.
“What is more, you are classified at every event and constantly tested for ability and awareness – whilst ensuring that the right player is awarded the fight and you are fully working together with you two judges as a team! “
Elaine has remained at the top of her game throughout her refereeing career, whilst supporting Area and National events for over 36 years in the UK. She has additionally refereed over 75 international events throughout her 17 years for Team GB at World Cadets, Senior Europeans, Junior Opens, Cadet Europeans, Europa Cup, European Veterans, European Team Championships and Grand Prix, Grand Slams all over the World. Some of the most memorable events were; being selected to referee for Team GB at the Paris Tournament (3 times) at Bercy Arena, passing the Continental level in Moscow Russia in 1999 and then the International level in Cuba 2009, representing female referees at the Women’s Referee Seminar in Singapore 2004 and Panama 2010 as well as winning The Referee of the Year Award in 2009.
During 1999 Elaine assisted at the World Championships in Birmingham and later on Elaine was selected to be a Technical Official as the technical scribe at the London Olympics 2012 and Paralympics 2012.
When Elaine was not matside, she was organising and carrying out courses for referees and training the next generation. She was the National Referee Examiner and Secretary on the National Refereeing Commission for 10 years, where she organised numerous National Refereeing Seminars, courses, technical support and principally organised the European Judo Union Referee Annual Seminar in London during 2008 which had the highest number of participants from all over Europe attend this level of course during the last 20 years. During her time on the NRC she was instrumental in helping forge new pathways into refereeing, particularly for younger people.
“We have a wealth of young talent in the UK and though we have an incredible bank of older elite referees, we need to develop this younger talent to ensure our future continue,” she said.
“We have the structure to develop young referees from the age of 14yrs. I am constantly amazed by our younger referees they are like sponges and do not hesitate to ask challenging questions.”
Alongside all these duties, Elaine a 3rd Dan, was a referee examiner, grading examiner, level 2 coach and tutor. She served on many committees including the Northern Home Counties for the last 33 years mainly as Director of Referees for the majority of the time and Chairman for 3 years.