Working holiday for Jan Bishop

Press, 28 March 1981, Page 64

Working holiday for Jan Bishop

By

ROD DEW

One of New Zealand's finest field events prospects for the Brisbane Commonwealth Games next year, Jan Bishop, of Canterbury, is planning a brief overseas trip to America, England, and Scandinavia this winter.

She will leave on May 1 and expects to be back in New Zealand two months later, in time to begin a heavy winter build-up for the next southern season. “It is a holiday. It is about time I had one,” she said. “However, I am taking my.gear with me. If the opportunity arises, I will certainly compete.” Miss Bishop, aged 21, is the New Zealand javelin champion, and is also regarded as a possible successor to Vai Young as New Zealand’s top shot and discus exponent in the years ahead. She was runner up to

Mrs Young in both these events in the recent New Zealand championship meeting at Hastings. In the discus she achieved a personal best of 45.86 m.

Miss Bishop represented New Zealand in the Pacific Conference Games in Christchurch this year in all three events, and it is most likely that she will be asked to contest all three at the Brisbane Games. However, she will still have to prove her form at the next New Zealand championships, which have been allocated to Christchurch for next March.

“I am going to have to really get stuck into some hard work when I come back.” said Miss Bishop, who is trained by the former Olympic coach, Valdemars Briedis. She is not sure what competition will be available to her while overseas, but she

is certain to do some throwing. She will be in Les Angeles for five days, and she is particularly hopeful of finding a suitable meeting there.

I At present, the javelin is probably her chief event, and she might well break the 50m barrier if she can find some strong opposition overseas. Her best throw in the season now drawing to a close was 49.48 m. She won the national .title with ananother big throw of 47.10 m.

Afterwards, she was critical of the standard reached by her championship rivals. “I was the only one over 40m. That is terrible.”

She was disappointed not to break the 50m mark in the championship, and puts this down to lack of pressure from her rivals. “I had a warm-up throw of 52m. I just stood there and biffed it. I know that 50m throw is just around the comer.”