In September 2017 Ronnie (Veronica) announced that she would be hanging up her belt and retiring as a Judo referee concluding her 36 years involvement in Judo. Nick Fletcher the NHC Chair thanked Ronnie for her many years of dedication and commitment to Judo and the NHC.
As an official Ronnie first started on the tables as a time keeper/scorer before moving on to refereeing. Initially Ronnie qualified as an Area Referee progressing to National C qualification and National B. Ronnie had to serve quite a few years until achieving National A and then attaining Senior National status. Ordinarily there were at least two to three years in between each qualification.
Ronnie refereed Visually Impaired athletes and Special Needs Judoka, travelling to European destinations; Sweden, Holland, Germany and Yogoslavia to officiate. Ronnie explained that it was a wonderful experience to have refereed at Special Needs Olympic events in Glasgow, Leicester and Hastings. Ronnie’s career included volunteering at London 2012 Olympics assisting on the Care System as well as Judogi Control. Ronnie says she absolutely loved it.
Ronnie has been a referee examiner, the NHC Junior Representative and has helped to run Referee Seminars. In addition to refereeing Ronnie has fought, is a 2nd Dan as well as a qualified coach.
Ronnie explained that Judo was her salvation and says a big thank you to Elaine and Roger Down who she respects phenomenally. Ronnie’s Judo journey has brought her into contact with Gordon Mortimer, Neil Lawcock, Alan Lingham, Reuben Davison, Neil Adams, Kaori Yamaguchi, Mike Callan, Roy Inman and Don Werner. Ronnie explained that without the experience of such wonderful people Judo would not be where it is today.
Ronnie believes that Judo is the most beautiful sport in that it teaches respect, being a part of a team, style, to lose with pride and to respect others when they win. The grades that are attained; white belt, yellow belt, orange belt, green belt, blue belt
brown belt and the big belt, the Black Belt. Upon reaching this we aim to progress through the Dan grades of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc right through to 10th Dan.
The nice thing is that you also get to meet wonderful Table officials, Coaches, men and women from all over England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Ronnie says “I respect everybody in this wonderful Sport of Judo.”