Obituary: Ray Topple

British Judo is deeply saddened to announce the recent passing of Ray Topple 8th Dan, a towering figure within our community whose influence on and off the tatami has been felt for more than five decades.

A proud member of Ryecroft Judo Club, Ray Topple was already a formidable competitor when many of today’s veterans were taking their first steps onto the mat. His dynamic judo and fierce competitive spirit earned him national recognition in the 1970s, where he quickly became, in the words of contemporaries, “a mini-legend”.

Ray transferred his competitive insight to refereeing and rose through the then three-tier British Judo Association system—Provisional National, National B and National A—well ahead of his peers. He gained his International “A” licence in Rostock in 1982, a qualification that opened the door to the sport’s biggest stages:

• 1992 – Senior European Championships, Paris; Junior World Championships, Argentina

• 1993 – Junior European Championships

• 1992-1994 – Personally invited by the All Japan Judo Federation to referee the prestigious Miki House Open, including several high-profile finals such as Japan v Russia

Respected equally by athletes, coaches and officials, Ray was often singled out by both the EJU and IJF for “the precision of his rule interpretation, his consummate technical knowledge and his unquestionable integrity”. Although invited to serve on the EJU Refereeing Commission, Ray chose to balance his love for judo with professional commitments at home.

For many years Ray served as a Referee Examiner—guiding candidates all the way to EJU level—and was a cornerstone presenter at Britain’s annual National Refereeing Courses. Countless officials recall how he “took them under his wing”, nurturing not just competence but confidence. His calm authority and willingness to share knowledge set a standard we continue to emulate.

Ray’s influence lives on every time a judoka from Ryecroft steps onto the contest area, every time a British referee models fairness and clarity, and every time an aspiring official realises that mastery and kindness can—and should—go hand-in-hand.

Members wishing to pay their respects are invited to reach out via Ryecroft Judo Club; further information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

On behalf of British Judo’s members, staff and volunteers, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Ray’s family, friends and all who had the privilege to know him.

Watch for further news from British Judo by checking out our latest news section. You can also catch up via our official social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The post Obituary: Ray Topple appeared first on British Judo Association.