A NEW state-of-the-art gym has been built by Irvine Judo Club which will help recruits improve their fitness.

The stylish new facility was unveiled in January.

Irvine Judo Club last May applied for a North Ayrshire Venture Trust funding and received £21,700. The money was for sporting equipment and gym equipment for their own small gym which was already in place. This funding and other funding from various generous people allowed them to apply for planning and building consent to build an extension to the club's existing building.

They were supplied with a digger and dumper from QTS.

Local businessmen Robert Kerr and Kevin Anderson supplied the club with tree surgeons to trim back overhanging trees, while club members carried out engineering work, project- managed and built the foundations and concrete floor with materials supplied by AMCO railway civil engineers.

The joinery work was carried out by Kevin McConnel Builders, who managed to build the extension within budget and timescale.

This will help in the fitness and strength training of our young athletes for future competitions. The gym is free to Judo club members.

The club have now completed the asset transfer from North Ayrshire council and it are delighted to have their own facility/ hall which allows them to open the club more often and the hall is now also available for hire for dance classes, fitness classes or kids parties .

Irvine Judo Club have purchased some new equipment, including mixed martial arts equipment , new punch bags and stands new wall mats and floor matting and are starting a mixed Martial arts class starting on Wednesday, February 14.

They also continue our Judo girls rock class which is on a Saturday from 12pm until 2 pm. This class is proving to be very popular. Classes are run by UK Level 2 coaches, with PVG'S and child protection training.

The club times are judo - 6.30pm until 7.30 for children and 7.30pm-9pm for adults. They now run a Mixed Martial arts class, which will consist of boxing training and boxercise/bagwork traditional Juijitsu, Judo and wrestling. This session will be great for people wishing to take up mixed martial arts or members of the public who would simply like to keep fit.