World Masters Champion Under 66kg (70 to 74 year Olds) Dickey Marcroft !

Congratulations !

Article from Tonbridge Courier 25th August 2010

THEY are at completely different stages in their careers, but Dick Marcroft and Ashley McKenzie seemingly have the world at their feet.

At the age of 72, Marcroft, for so long the dedicated judo coach at Tonbridge, won gold at the World Masters Championships, while McKenzie, one of Britain's bright sporting hopes, has come on leaps and bounds under the tutelage of Chris Bowles at the Swanmead and is gunning for glory at the Judo World Championships in Tokyo next month.

For Marcroft, victory in Canada was his greatest achievement. Last year, after decades training talented youngsters, he decided to have a crack at competing internationally himself. McKenzie thinks Marcroft "lost the plot" such was the intensity of the training regime he put himself through.

Take a 'normal' Monday as an example. In total Marcroft would cycle 14 miles to and from the gym, taking part in three training sessions, including circuits, free practice and what he calls hard training. Remember the guy is 72 and would repeat this punishing schedule at least three times a week.

It's no wonder victory in Canada was no more than a formality.

"I've devoted myself to the children and getting them on the rostrum," Marcroft said. "I didn't want to just sit on my backside and waste my life away. Your brain shuts off. I didn't want to take the easy way out. If you look after yourself, you can keep going a long, long time.

"This was a new goal for me. Chris said 'go on. Give it a go.' I did and have never looked back. I'm glad I did go. It's the best thing I have ever done. Judo's my life. I've never done anything else. This is the icing on the cake – my greatest achievement."

All that's left now is a crack at the Olympics in 2012? Okay maybe not, but one man who certainly has his eyes on London is McKenzie.

The 21-year-old is a member of the Willesden Judo Club in London, but has been training with Bowles in Tonbridge for the past four months. He is now the European number one, having won two European Cups at the British and Hamburg Opens, and is one of the favourites for gold at the world championships.

"Ashley has had a big influence on the club since his arrival," Bowles said. "The inspiration and guidance he can give to the under 20s and juniors is phenomenal.

"He's good enough to get on the rostrum in Tokyo. Anything can happen when you get down to the semis and he should be in that last four."

McKenzie himself says training at the Tonbridge Dojo has been great for him.

"It's very intense at times, but I don't want it to be easy if I want to progress. The great thing about Chris is that he knows when to give me a rest."

Looking ahead to London 2012 he added: "It would be nice to get a medal. I'm confident I can get a medal. And if it goes the way I'd like it to go, it should be gold."

In other news, Kerry Ford has been selected for the GB World Cup squad.

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