Dr Andrew Moshanov grapples with Island Games gold medallist Roberto Mascherucci. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0590132)

A TOP Russian judo coach has fallen in love with the island – and it could lead to big things.

Dr Andrew Moshanov, sixth dan, was recently in the Channel Islands in his role as the technical director of the British Judo Association.

Organised by the Judo Association of Guernsey, his first visit to the island was specifically to revalidate the six BJA level two coaches who run the three local clubs – the Guernsey Judo Club, the Rising Sun School of Judo and Judo Frascati. The training session lasted four hours and was held at Brock Road Youth Centre.

‘Dr Moshanov was so impressed with the local set-up and the beauty of Guernsey he is going to recommend to his colleagues in Moscow that they consider sending the national under-18 squad here for their summer camp, hopefully in 2009,’ said the chairman of the GJC, Mitch Agnelli.