New year honours: sporting stars pick up yet more awards for skills

A SCOTTISH judo master with 64 years experience of the martial art and a string of awards to his name, has said he is "ecstatic" to receive a CBE.

George Kerr, 73, from Edinburgh, who is president of the British Judo Association and has been practising the sport since he was eight, said: "I could not believe it. To get a CBE is phenomenal. I'm very, very surprised and honoured to receive such a high award as a CBE. My family and everyone is delighted."

The award tops a fairytale year for the man nicknamed "Mr Judo", who was also honoured by the Emperor of Japan in his November honours list. He is to receive the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan's highest awards, next month. He was also awarded the 10th Dan in February, a title held by only five other people in the world and also received an honorary doctorate from Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University.

Mr Kerr said: "It has been a fantastic year. I've been so honoured and humbled and blessed; it's like it's been sent from heaven."

He is the only Briton to coach an Olympic champion, helping Australian Peter Seisenbracher to gold in 1984 and 1988.

Meanwhile, Ronald Watt from Aberdeenshire, received an MBE for services to karate.