A COMMONWEALTH and world champion from Largs has spoken of his delight that Inverclyde Sports Centre will hosting the prestigious Scottish Judo Championships next week.

Graham Randall MBE says the event on 18 and 19 January which will attract hundreds of competitors and visitors to the town.

The 43-year-old is sports and education manager at the centre and says it is ready to host the spectacular.

Graham's judo career peaked when he became world champion in Birmingham in 1999 and Commonwealth champion at the games in Manchester in 2002, before retiring from the sport at 27.

The father-of-two said: "I knew it was my last ever tournament and I was actually up against a partisan crowd in Manchester as I was facing Englishman!

"I wanted to end my judo career on a high - it was a very special occasion for me.

"I travelled everywhere in my judo career including Brazil, Argentina, Georgia, Russia, Japan, Australia, Canada and America.

"I remember going to Tbilisi in Georgia and there were tanks in the street as it was in the middle of a war - but the people were fantastic."

Graham says his career in the sport gave him the discipline to be a success in life.

He said: "It was a Monday to Sunday routine, training three times a day. You had to train, eat, sleep and repeat - every day."

Graham said he was inspired to take up judo after watching Mark Curry try it out on Blue Peter - and was delighted to be invited onto the popular children's show years later for a special demonstration that saw him gifted a coveted gold Blue Peter badge.

After retiring, Graham went on to the Institute of Sport to do a fast track coaching programme and ended up as national coach of the Scottish senior team.

He is married to wife Jo and has two sons, Ewan and Robbie.

Graham is also commodore of Fairlie Sailing Club and now has the wind in his sails about promoting the arrival of a national judo in Largs.

He also carried the Commonwealth baton through Inverclyde in 2014 in the build up to the Glasgow games, something he says he will never forget. He added: "It was a very special day for the area, as will this championship.

"It will also be a good boost for the area's economy at a difficult time of year."