Fitness tells in judo

Press, 1 April 1980, Page 32

Fitness tells in judo

Superior fitness enabled a small Canterbury team to produce creditable performances against formidable opposition in the national judo championships in Palmerston North.

The imminence of . the Olympic team choices — prompted by the presence of Mr Roy Dutton, a national selector — whipped up great pressure among the many competitors. ■ A Canterbury heavyweight, „ Lindsay . Holmes, described the contest as one of the hardest championships he had attended. ' “Man, it was a real battlefield out there.” he said. But the testing training

programme devised by Graham Coulson, of Can-Am-Ju, stood the Canterbury players in good stead Although they were edged out on technique here and there they surpassed the others in fitness.

Ohe of the best. performances came from Phillip McSweehey, - of Ashburton, who gained third place in the under-86kg division. He revealed ability and courage in his bouts, downing two black belts and ’ carrying on gamely after ' damaging his shoulder. His efforts .were rewarded by a promotion to green belt. > > : Graham Spinks, who competed in the Pacific Rim

championships in Honolulu earlier this year, was' convincing in taking second place in the under-71kg division.

Youth did not prove to be a hindrance for Michael Smith, a. first, year senior who was third in the under78kg group, or for Judith Bruce, winner .of the women’s 14 to. 18 years division. She was also third in the open contest. The most experienced members; of the Canterbury team, Ivor Endicott-Davies and Holmes, were first and third respectively in the under-95kg event, and Endi-cott-Davies went on to claim fhird place in the open.