Boycott hits weightlifting contest

Press, 25 July 1986, Page 21

Boycott hits weightlifting contest

By

KIP BROOK,

NZPA staff correspondent Edinburgh

New Zealand’s weightlifting coach, Rory Barrett, is concerned about the frighteningly small

number of weightlifting entries in some divisions for the XHlth Commonwealth Games.

The mass boycott of the games was beginning to take its effect, said Mr Barrett yesterday. Other sports people were becoming concerned over the upheaval caused by the pullout of more than half the Commonwealth countries, he added.

By yesterday, 31 countries had withdrawn, leaving only 27 nations. “This is a serious problem. It is the first time this has happened at any games to my knowledge,” he said.

Barrett, a former New Zealand representative, said the four New Zealanders would fortunately be competing in classes unaf-

fected by the boycott. Mike Bernard will compete in light-heavyweight, Alister Nalder in middle-heavy-heavyweight, Kevin Blake in sub-heavyweight and Clayton Chelley in featherweight. Nalder is New Zealand's best chance for a gold medal but is ranked third going into the competition. "However, some of the -weights do not have enough entries for three medals to be won,” Mr Barrett said. “In the flyweight, three lifters are entered. An Australian looks favoured to win the division but the two entries, both Scottish lifters, will miss out on medals,” he said.