A Stewartry judo coach has received a prestigious award.
Steven Allan from Castle Douglas Judo Club was named Young Coach of the Year at the JudoScotland Coaching and Volunteering Awards.
This prestigious accolade is part of a national programme celebrating the dedication and hard work of judo’s workforce across Scotland.
The Young Coach of the Year Award recognises individuals who have invested in their development as coaches and made a meaningful impact on their athletes. Steven exemplifies this through his journey with JudoScotland’s Senpai programme, a Young Leaders initiative. Since joining, Steven has achieved several coaching qualifications and launched a project to expand the club’s adaptive judo class, which he now leads alongside the head coach.
His engaging and inclusive approach to coaching has had a positive impact not only on the adaptive class but also on the entire club. Steven has played a pivotal role in supporting his brother, Sean Allan, who has excelled in adaptive judo, winning gold at the Special Olympics last year and another at a European Judo Union event this year.
Head coach at Castle Douglas Judo Club, Luke Struthers, said: “Steven’s contribution to the club is truly invaluable. His unwavering commitment to both the club and his personal development is an inspiration to us all. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his dedication, and as a club, we couldn’t be more proud to see his hard work acknowledged.”
Sam Ingram of JudoScotland, added: “Steven is an invaluable asset to the club, consistently dedicating significant time and effort to his coaching role and personal development. Given his age, he has taken on a remarkable level of responsibility and demonstrates outstanding commitment to his journey.”
Steven was presented his award earlier this month at his club in Castle Douglas by JudoScotland club support officer Sam Ingram.