Battling Black Isle siblings secure judo glory at championships
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A SISTER and brother from the Black Isle have returned triumphant from the British Judo Championships in Sheffield.
Aimee and Jack Grant, from Culbokie, who are both rising stars in the sport, won gold and silver in their respective weight bands.
Sixteen-year-old Aimee, a fifth year pupil at Fortrose Academy and a previous British champion at pre-cadet level, became British champion in the under-52kg band at cadet level. This was hot on the heels of winning at Scottish Championships in Motherwell for the fifth year in succession.
It has been a very fulfilling year for Aimee, who was the only Scottish girl to be selected for Great Britain in the European Championships in Greece. She hopes to represent GB in the European Champions in 2015 and possibly take part in the European Youth Olympics in Tbilisi.
Jack (13), who is a second year pupil at Fortrose Academy, struck silver in the pre-cadet under-46 kg band.
He only lost out on a gold medal by a single point in a very closely fought final.
Jack is also the reigning Scottish champion at his weight band.
Apart from judo, football is his other great passion. He trains with Ross County’s under-14s twice a week and plays on a Sunday.
The duo’s devotion for judo shows no bounds. Aimee and Jack are picked up after school on a Wednesday by their father, Bryden and make the 320-mile round trip to Edinburgh to train with Judo Scotland.
Locally, they train with Robert Ingles in Inverness.
The pair’s proud mother, Evelyn told the Ross-shire Journal: “We were absolutely astounded by what they have achieved. We are very proud of both of them – they are very dedicated and just love the sport.”
Equally proud of their sister and brother, are sister, Kaitlin (11), and Stewart (6), who has just taken up the sport.
