'Mr Mew Zealand' Title Won By Northlander

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1948, Page 7

'Mr Mew Zealand' Title Won By Northlander

ED NORTON, of Whangarei, won the title of “Mr New Zealand” for 1948 at Palmerston North last Saturday. Conducted each year at the New Zealand weight-lifting championships, the contest is judged, not from the point of view of glamour, but from the angle of physical perfection.

Norton was 10 anti a half points clear of the next best contestant. His attributes in muscular and harmonious proportion, . posing ability, personality, deportment, and his splendid vitality, plus the excellent condition of his skin, hair and teeth, gave him the clear-cut win. Three other Whangarei enthusiasts figured prominently in the contest. Keith Going was placed fourth, and the New’bury twins, Peter and Paul, tied for seventh position. SPECIAL PRIZES Special prizes won by Whangarei men were: Abdominal, Paul Newbury 1, K. Going 2, L. Snooks 3; Bestposing, K. Going 1, E. Norton 2; Best arms, K. Going tied with T. Clark (Auckland) for second place; Best legs, K. Going was. second to Clark (Auckland); Best back, K. Going 1. Considering it was the first championship meeting for most of the party of nine from Whangarei, the successes gained, augur well for the sport in Northland.

Peter Newbury (body weight 141 if), was fourth with a total of 535, and L. Snooks, (body weight 145) fifth with 530. In a special attempt on the New Zealand lightweight one arm clean and bent press record of 12541 b, Neville Couchman, Whangarei, recorded 1261 b. As the record must be broken by a clear pound, the new figure was not allowed. NEAR MISS Paul Newbury attempted to break the New Zealand lightweight snatch record of 1881 b. He narrowly missed when he tried 1901 b. Much of the credit for the success of the Whangarei men at the championships goes to their coach, Mr Bert West, who is considered one of the best one-arm lifters in New Zealand. He is also said to be without peer in this country as a muscle-control expert.

In the national weight-lifting events, the Whangarei men were well to the fore. All contested the lightweight division.

Ed. Norton retained his New Zealand lightweight title with the following effort: (Body weight, 14811 b) oress, 135, snatch 175, clean and jerk 240, total 6001bs. Earle Mete Kingi, of Palmerston North, was second and Paul Newbury, (body weight 14711 b) with press 150, snatch 180. clean and jerk, total 5451 b, w'as third.