Judo exponents to test skills

Press, 1 June 1985, Page 12

Judo exponents to test skills

Four Canterbury judo players will make this weekend’s South Island championships their final competitive outing before leaving to compete in the Pacific Rim event in Tokyo from June 15 to 16. Janet Poole (under 66kg), John Moody (under 71kg), PhUlip McSweeney (under 81kg) and Mike Smith (under 95kg) have all been selected in the New Zealand team of 10, which also includes the Olympic representative, Bill Vincent, of Taranaki. The South Island tournament will be held at the St Thomas’s College gymnasium tomorrow and Sunday, with a black belt grading on Monday. Poole, McSweeney and

Smith will all be fighting in the respective opens as well as in their weight divisions during the week-end. Although Moody will be competing only in his weight division he will be expectmg tough opposition from a newcomer to the Canterbury judo scene, Yoshihito Kawanoto, of Japan. Kawanoto, like Moody, a third dan black belt, is in New Zealand to learn about rugby. Several competitors will be doing their utmost to hold their places in the national rid and the national coach, Brian Cloynes, of Dunedin, will be one of the panel of referees. Mr Cloynes will also be running the black belt gradings.