Smith wins judo

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 34

Smith wins judo

Canterbury’s Michael Smith fought well to win the gold medal in the senior men’s under-95kg weight division when the Oceania Judo Union championships were contested in Auckland at the week-end.

Smith also performed capably in the senior men’s open to take equal-third place. Two other Canterbury members of the New Zealand team, John Moody (under 71kg) and Graeme Spinks (under 78kg), filled second placings in their respective weight division. In the senior women’s competition Janet Poole took a third place in the open and Brenda Lefty, who recently competed in the United States, .open, was third in the under48kg weight division.

Canterbury exponents also figured prominently in the young men’s section, John Rawiri and Ross Crouch (under 60kg), Craig Muir (under 71kg) and Andrew Hundleby (open) all picking up third placings. Australia dominated the championships, winning four of* the eight senior men’s titles to New Zealand’s three, and seven of the eight women’s titles.

The director of the Canterbury Judo Area, Mr Peter Miles, has now gained his Oceania referee’s certificate, while another Canterbury referee, Mr Les Brindley, has been awarded his International Judo Federation certificate.