After a parent raised the issue of a child competing against an ineligible player at the BJA Midland Area Regional Schools competition, in the GB Judo Community FaceBook group.

Competition Organiser: Sarah Newbury

Members got together and crowdsourced / investigated the matter.
It turned out that at least one ineligible player had competed at the BJA Southern Area Regional School competition as well and that this competition along with the BJA Eastern Area Regional School competition had incorrect restrictions at their competitions. 
Southern Area Competition Organiser: Andy Grand
Eastern Area Competition Organiser: Denise Oates

Ineligble players are national medalists and high ranked players.

Ineligible players competing at regional schools competitions not only breaches the competition rules.

It goes against the spirit of judo and is also a wellbeing and safeguarding concern.

Upon being informed, the BJA Safeguarding Manager, Andrew Bowly, promised in 2025 that “the issue was sorted”.

See ineligible criteria for this competition below.

Unfortunately, BJA Area competition organisers don’t publish entry lists before or during these competitions despite knowing the competitors for up to 2 weeks before the competition starts.

Every BJA competition should have dedicated safeguarding officer. 

Check the competition document for details.   

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In the specific case of the 2025 BJA Midland Area Regional Schools competition with 4 ineligible players competing, the organiser, Sarah Newbury, had used her son’s company for registration.  
Judo Technologies Ltd

When the details were exposed on this website and discussed in the GB Judo Community group.

It caused irritation with a few, but loud, people within British Judo. 
Particularly Stefan Newbury that recently referred to his own “wellbeing” when supporting a person with multiple recent assault convictions and not BJA licensed to coach Judo nor BJA membership  had attempted to teach children (from 4+) and seniors at a “Judo Masterclass”.   

Stefan Newbury, being a BJA paid employee, obviously does not adhere to BJA Safeguarding’s statement: 

“British Judo take safeguarding and the safety of its members extremely seriously…”

When his company is involved with registering children for BJA licensed competitions organised by his mum?! 

You can discuss matters like this and raise issues in the GB Judo Community group unlike the politically controlled judo FaceBook groups such as BJA Southern Area, the JUG, etc.

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