N.Z. set to lift 9 weight medals

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33442, 25 January 1974, Page 7

N.Z. set to lift 9 weight medals

New Zealanders are in ia strong position to win the lion’s share of [medals in the Games 'weight - lifting, which will begin in the James Hay Theatre this evening. Seventy - three weight-lifters from 16 countries will take part.

New Zealand and Australia have the best prospects over all in the Olympic-style competition. New r Zealand’s nine-man team has entries in seven of the nine body-weight divisions and the national selector Mr Les Mills says he expects up to nine medals from them. The former Christchurch Boys’ High School field athlete, G. May, now 21 stone at the age of 21, is regarded as a certainty for a gold medal in the unlimited super heavy-weight division. May, the Commonwealth record-holder, has lifted a total of 342.5 kg. in the two competition lifts in Olympic style weight-lifting, the

snatch, and the clean and jerk. This is considerably heavier than the total of any of his opponents. >

i The battle for silver and bronze medals will be between the British coalminer, D. Hancock, who has a best [total of 332.5 kg., A. Kerr, of (England (325 kg. and T. PerIdue, of Wales (330 kg. ( The heavy-weight class (will be a battle for a gold medal between J. Bolton and J. Barrett, both of New Zealand and T. Prior of Canada. Prior has a total of 345 kg., Bolton 335 kg.. and Barrett 330 kg. But Bolton and Barrett' have improved so much in] training in the last six; weeks that they might be! 'first and second.

; B. Strange, of Britain, (with a total of 330 kg., is an [outside chance for a bronze [medal. Ciancio's choice I In the middle heavy- ; weight division, the New' Zealander, Brian Marsden is an excellent prospect for a gold medal. He has a skg margin in performance

lifrom the man who will) probably be his strongest; rival, J. Burns, of Wales, [whose best is 310 kg. ( But the outcome of this] class depends on whether N. [Ciancio, of Australia, decides ito lift in the class or in the! lone below. Ciancio has been) losing weight with influenza iand his plans are yet uncer-l tain. If he lifts in this class, Marsden’s chances of a gold, will be less. S. Wyatt (Australia) and C. April (Canada) both have! reasonable prospects of winning the bronze medal. J. Shea, a former Canter-; I bury champion, will represent Papua New Guinea, i | where he is a university lecturer. Ciancio will be a near-; certainty to win the light] heavy-weight gold medal if; he decides to lift in the divi-i sion. His imposing total in; this class is 27.5 kg. ; T. Ford, of England, whoi has exceptional leg power ■ will battle for a silver medal

with P. Wallwork, of Samoa. Both have lifted totals of 302.5 kg. M. Pearman, of England (297.5 kg), and the rapidly improving P. Brosnan, of New Zealabd, with an Australiasian title to his credit, are possibilities for |the bronze medal. Ebert's chances Canterbury's A. J. Ebert. I the middle-weight silver (medal winner at Edinburgh, is one of New Zealand’s best gold medal prospects. Since Edinburgh, he has had experience at Munich and in the world championships in Peru. His main rival will be .1. Waterworth, of Australia Ebert has beaten Waterworth four times, the last occasion being in the Australasian championships in August.

At the championships, Ebert’s best clean and jerk was 3531 b (a personal best), but under pressure he lifted 3701 b successfully, taking the title. Waterworth has a higher personal total, but has never beaten Ebert in competition. A New York policeman. S. Bailey, lifting for Trinadad. looks the best prospect for a bronze with a best total of 282.5 kg. Fire near-equal New Zealand has two good medal prospects in the ■ light-weight division in B Cameron and P. Sue. This weight is an open contest between them. W \ Frew of Australia, G. Newton, of England, and I. Owen, of Wales. The class might be decided on a bodyweight count-back, as all five are within a few pounds in their capacities. New Zealand, and especially Canterbury lifters, feel that" the technical ability of B. Duffy will yield hum a medai in the feather-weight class.

Duffy, who weighs 1321 b is so fast and skilful that he lifts more than double his own weight. However, he will complete against two Australians, G Hay and G Vasiliades who have better paper totals. P. McKenzie, of England | t

I is the favourite to win the ] fly-weight class. This will be the first division decided in the James Hay Theatre, ! when the series begins this evening. Singapore’s B. K. Ng has i lifted as lifted as much as | McKenzie when competing lone weight class above, and I might be the strongest 'threat to D. Lodhchoudhury, |of India, for a silver medal. I. Katz (Australia) is the; (universal choice for a gold [medal in the bantam-weight [division, to be held this evening. Australia is expected to gain a silver medal from Katz’s teammate, M. Adams. 1 Intense coaehinfi If New Zealand weightIlifters get more medals than 'any other sport it will be a (great tribute to the unstint-1’ ling help from the New Zealand coach, the former i (Olympic super heavy-weight,.<

■ Mr Don Oliver, who hat been spending more than Id hours a day with the New . Zealand team. Another official w'ho ha< had great influence on ih( New Zealand weight-lifterl !is Mr H. Morrison, who wai a member of the Scottish team al the CommonwealtH Games in Auckland in 195(1 Mr Morrison, who now lives hi < anterbury, hat ■ been the main influence hi [the success of three of tin medal prospects, Ebert, Duffy and May. He hat coached May since he took up lifting in Canterbury at the age of 15 in preference to field athletics. The controller of the weight-lifting division (Mr A. Roy) says: "Sound organ* [isation and magnificent fa< (Cilities at the James Hat (Theatre should make lifting at Christchurch the best staged at a Common wealth contest.”