PONT-SAINT-ESPRIT Maurice Souche, great man of judo, honored in his city – Objectif Gard

Very few can claim to have seen such an event in their honor during their lifetime: Maurice Souche, sixty years of commitment to judo in Pont-Saint-Esprit and at the departmental, regional and national levels, was the subject a big party this Saturday at Clos Bon-Aure, whose dojo now bears his name.

Maurice Souche, 79 (he will be 80 at the end of December), co-founded the Judo Club Spiripontain (JCS) 60 years ago. “Teacher at the club since 1964, he became president in 1992”, recalls the Sports Assistant, Thomas Poyet. Still president of the JCS, which now has 200 members, Maurice Souche has trained more than 150 black belts, and has a track record as long as your arm. 5th dan black belt, recipient of the great gold medal of the French Federation, of the Palme d’Or for education, Maurice Souche also shines with his human qualities.

The mayor of Pont-Saint-Esprit, Claire Lapeyronie, thus salutes “his faith in humanism, in the other even when he is different. » Thus, Maurice Souche has largely contributed to making Benjamin Téoule, who went through the JCS, a five-time French champion in disabled judo, eight times selected for the French team, bronze medalist at the European and World team championships.

In short, it is a judo legend that the town of Pont wanted to honor on the occasion of a big party bringing together, in addition to the JCS licensees, the Judo Taïso clubs of Bagnols, the clubs of Roquemaure, Tulette ( Drôme), Aramon, Mondragon (Vaucluse), Pierrelatte (Drôme), Alès and Bollène (Vaucluse), but also great champions of the discipline. There were Jean-Philippe Gentil, Benjamin Téoule, Pascal Dard, Shirine Boukli and, to the chef’s surprise, Angelo Parisi, who was, among other things, Olympic champion in 1980 and standard bearer for the French delegation at the 1984 Olympic Games, came especially from Italy for the occasion.

A gathering of champions gathered to pay tribute to Maurice Souche, “a great pedagogue with an incredible sense of transmission”, salutes Benjamin Téoule. Shirine Boukli, from Aramon, double European champion and French champion, greets a man she has met on the tatami for years, and ” who deserves “ the tributes paid this Saturday. “He’s a wonderful man”, summarizes Angelo Parisi. Another guest, the deputy of Hérault Patrick Vignal, who came as a judoka and judo teacher, friend of the Souche family. “Maurice has always been someone who thought about the future, who saw bigger, it’s more than an example”launches the parliamentarian.

So organize this big party and baptize the dojo with the name of Maurice Souche “It seemed obvious to usemphasizes Claire Lapeyronie. If judo is doing so well here in Pont-Saint-Esprit, it is thanks to its unfailing commitment for 60 years. » A commitment that he passed on to his sons Didier and Patrice, who took over the teaching of judo. A family story in which his wife Paulette plays a big role, often in the shadows.

“I am very moved, it touches me a lot”said Maurice Souche through his son Patrice. “Judo has brought me a lot, and in return I try to pass on what I have received”he continues, before warning: “The Judo Club Spiripontain is not over, there are still many adventures to be had. »

Thierry ALLARD

thierry.allard@objectivegard.com

And also :

On the occasion of this sports festival, the Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee officially awarded the Terre de Jeux 2024 label. “promote sport and the values ​​of sport ahead of the 2024 Olympics”, emphasizes Thomas Poyet. For the occasion, the president of the Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee of Gard, Philippe Montagut, had made the trip.