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Damon does a great job at Neyland judo
The name of McGarvie has been synonymous with judo in Neyland for over 40 years after such great work by Bill McGarvie and his wife Joyce – and now it is their son Damon who carries on that amazing record as this Black Belt, 3rd Dan coaches the many youngsters at Neyland Judo Club, as well as proving himself a very effective competitor in his own right at Masters (veteran) events all over the country.
Work aplenty
Damon has established a ‘Young Dragons’ club with an age range of 5-11, with the aim being to stimulate those youngsters who attend with light exercise linked to fun activities and games which will hopefully ensure their involvement in judo for many years to come. Not content with that little lot, Damon also runs a judo class at his school in Angle, and of the 21 children in his care, 19 of them are already taking their place on the judo mat, whilst fellow coach Dave Weatherburn holds similar classes for Mr Arthur Kendrick at Spittal School.
This is all on top of the regular Neyland Judo Club sessions, which are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, plus the Saturday morning sessions for children aged 7 to 16. The emphasis on the Tuesday is on fitness, technical elements and working on KATA, the series of moves that show the full range of a participant’s moves in a set pattern. On Thursday they take part in ‘Randori’, which is fight practice, always carefully monitored.
Family front and Black belt success
Back on the family front, mum Joyce is a senior brown belt in judo whilst dad Bill is a Black Belt, 2nd Dan, and they marked their official retirement from judo with a special trip to Latvia last year. The whole family had a great time and when the Latvians paid a return visit to Neyland Bill was persuaded back on the mat – but was adamant that it was definitely the final time! The family involvement is continued since Damon’s son Connor (11) is already an orange belt – and although Damon’s wife Sue has yet to be coaxed on to the mat she provides excellent support for her husband and son.
Damon was delighted to achieve his own Black Belt, 3rd Dan, because it was hard work whilst fitting in all his coaching duties. To reach that high level he had to win 10 fights against others of the same rank and he won three fights in Willesden on the same day, beating two opponents from England and one from New Zealand, to take him to his goal in style – and he also had to pass a theory exam as an added challenge!
Other sports
Damon has to focus on judo now but in his younger days he was also a very good rugby player and accomplished athlete who became a Welsh Champion. In the oval ball game he played back or second row with Neyland as he moved through junior, youth and first team sections with the All Blacks before studying at UWIC and playing for the college’s first XV and being part of the WRU’s developmental squad at under 21 and under 23 levels.
In athletics he was an accomplished discuss and shot putter who competed for school and the local harriers before becoming a Welsh champ in both throwing events – and then representing the British Universities whilst at UWIC.
Hard work - and travel aplenty
But then Judo took over completely and he now has Judoka coming to his club from Fishguard area, Kilgetty, Milford Haven, Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, Haverfordwest and St Ishmaels, as well as from Neyland. There is a great deal of travel involved in attending competitions with his young charges, including regular visits to London, the Midlands and even further afield with talented competitors like Helen Weatherburn, for whom Damon has great hopes at the highest level.
“Helen could go all the way, and I’m hoping for a free ticket to watch her, perhaps in 2016!”
He also adds that high-quality participants, like Helen, ensure that others in the club can see what she has achieved and also set their sights on much higher things!
Back in action
Damon has been involved in coaching since he was 15 but has run the club for the last five years – but recently decided that he needed to sharpen his own judo and joined the Masters Competition circuit which is designed to cater for competition for the older people involved in judo. It is organised according to age and he previously took part in the 30-35 bracket, with early success as he became Welsh champion in 2008 and followed this up with second place in the British Masters, no mean feat since the competition is very high. Now he is 36 and so moves up an age category – and says that there are some competing at 65 so he still has plenty of time to win other titles!
And finally . . .
So what of the future for Damon? On a personal basis he is eager to see the sport developed even further. He is already an examiner in his sport but the next step is to become a senior examiner so that can grade other Black Belts. But most of all he is determined that Neyland Judo Club will continue to go from strength to strength, and there is no doubt that he is already doing a wonderful job in keeping the McGarvie name as symbolic with quality, high skill levels and self-discipline in the world of judo!
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