Judo: Coach holds out for better results in US

By GORDON GILLAN

New Zealand coach Stephen Corkin is optimistic of better results in the United States Open next month, after a disappointing team performance in the world championships in Japan.

Eight athletes represented New Zealand at Osaka this month, but recorded no top-seven finishes.

"The US Open is a more realistic goal for our athletes and also part of the Olympics' points-scoring system," said Corkin.

He leaves tomorrow to join six New Zealand athletes in Colorado Springs for an intensive international training camp ahead of the US Open in Las Vegas, which begins on October 10. Six more Kiwi athletes will join the squad before the tournament begins.

With poor world championship results, the athletes need impressive finishes to keep alive chances of qualifying for next year's Olympic Games.

To represent New Zealand in Athens, athletes must finish top in their category for Oceania, which is achieved by results at the world championships, US Open and next April's Oceania championship. Judo NZ must then prove an athlete's ability to finish in the top 16 in Greece.

"Auckland's Tim Slyfield is probably our best chance of making it, with fellow Aucklanders Rochelle Stormont, Ben Pilley and Lyndsay Reid our other more experienced athletes," said Corkin.

Work commitments meant Manchester Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Slyfield missed the worlds. He is adjusting to competing in the under 90kg category instead of the under 81kg.

Judo New Zealand president Harry O'Rourke said the squad was in a transition period.

"We have basically moved from having a top team of experienced athletes to having an up-and-coming squad not yet of world championship level.

"Hopefully they will be at that level in a couple of years for the next one," he said.

O'Rourke admitted that homegrown talent struggled to compete against overseas professionals, who were paid salaries and bonuses, while New Zealand athletes had to pay for their own overseas trips.

Meanwhile, O'Rourke was awarded a silver medal in Osaka for his services to judo at both national and international level.

New Zealand squad:

Women: Rochelle Stormont (Auckland, 48kg), Lisa Uhlich-Archbold (Auckland, 52kg), Tamsin Rigold (Auckland, 63kg); Men: Alister Leat (Auckland, 60kg), Ben Pilley (Auckland, 66kg), Peter Broom (Canterbury, 73kg), Lyndsay Reid (Auckland, 73kg), Ryan Dillrussell (North Shore, 90kg), Grant Jones (Canterbury, 90kg), Tim Slyfield (Auckland, 90kg), Sydney Manuka (Auckland, 100kg), Andrew Pragnell (Auckland, 100kg).