Mota claims British Schools title

CHRIS Mota’s fledgling judo career took a massive step forward when the Highland Budokan member won the British Schools title in Sheffield with a 100 per cent record.

The Inverness Royal Academy sixth year pupil recovered from injury to take this latest title and already has international honours both for Scotland and Great Britain.

In Sheffield he won all four of his fights by the biggest margin possible to take the under-60 kg title for senior pupils.

Mota has won selection to represent Scotland for the last four years at a competition in Holland and has also represented Great Britain in the Cadet class at the European Cup.

This latest triumph, however, represents another major success on the British scene for the 17-year-old.

The high flyer already has an unconditional acceptance to study aeronautical engineering at Glasgow University next session and he intends to use this academic opportunity to join the university judo club.

"I am especially pleased to have taken this British title by winning all four of my fights," said Mota.

"I currently compete as an individual under Judo Scotland, but when I go to Glasgow I am really looking forward to joining the University judo club there."

Mota has also drawn great praise from his school, which over the last 25 years has had among its former pupils a host of international performers including three Olympians — Ewan MacDonald (curling), Mhairi Spence (modern pentathlon) and Eddie Alexander (cycling).

"Apart from being a very talented sports performer, Chris has also done very well academically and has done a great job coping with the demands of high level training and competition, while building up an impressive list of academic qualifications," said depute rector Alex Gunn.