Judo Western Australia is proud to highlight the achievements of two of our esteemed referees, Celeste Knoester and Patrick Tichelaar, who recently officiated at major national events as part of Judo Australia’s National Event Series.
Patrick Tichelaar at the 2025 Canberra International Open
Patrick Tichelaar, a National A-level referee, was on the mats at the 2025 Canberra International Open, held in Goulburn, NSW, from Saturday, 22 to Sunday, 23 February 2025. Patrick has been making significant strides in his refereeing journey, having earned his National A licence after the 2024 Sydney International Open in February last year. With a strong passion for officiating, Patrick is now working towards obtaining his Continental licence, a step that will further elevate his career and allow him to officiate at a higher level of competition.
Patrick’s next tournament will be the 2025 Australian National Championships in June 2025, and he is also looking to referee at the 2025 Gold Coast Oceania Open in November. He continues to work towards his Continental licence.
Celeste Knoester at the 2025 Sydney International Open
The following weekend, from Saturday, 1 to Sunday, 2 March 2025, Celeste Knoester took to the mats at the 2025 Sydney International Open. Celeste, a Continental-level referee, has consistently demonstrated her dedication and expertise in officiating. Having been promoted to her Continental Licence in Turkey in July 2024, she is now working towards obtaining her International Licence. Achieving this milestone will enable Celeste to referee at International Judo Federation (IJF) World Judo Tour events, solidifying her place among the top referees in the world.
Celeste’s next competitions will be the Dubrovnik Senior European Cup 2025 from 5-6 April in Croatia and the Lignano Junior European Cup 2025 from 12-13 April in Italy. She continues to work towards her International licence.
The Referee Pathway in Judo Australia
For those unfamiliar with the referee accreditation system in Judo Australia, the pathway consists of the following levels: Green Shirt, State C, State B, State A, National C, National B, National A, Continental, and International. Each level represents an increasing degree of experience and expertise, culminating in the International Licence, which grants referees the opportunity to officiate IJF World Judo Tour events.
Refereeing is an excellent way to stay involved in judo, whether as an active competitor looking to expand their knowledge, a coach wanting to deepen their understanding of the rules, or a former competitor seeking to give back to the sport. There are opportunities to referee at local, national, and international levels, with support and mentorship available along the way.
Judo WA is immensely proud of both Patrick and Celeste for their continued dedication and contributions to the sport. Their commitment to refereeing not only enhances the standard of officiating in Western Australia but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring referees looking to follow in their footsteps.
We encourage anyone interested in refereeing to get involved and start their journey today. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a referee, reach out to Judo WA for more information on upcoming courses and development opportunities.
Congratulations to both Patrick and Celeste on their recent achievements!
