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| Monday, 24 January 2005 |
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Gentleman Schucroft the bodybuilder Life and times in sport by Premasara Epasinghe All activities are body based. Any normal human being exerts his physique in his day-to-day activities. But, there are those who discipline their body as part of their sports attitudes. In all cultures, there have been tradition of body cultivation and use of this physical resort as a means of performing a variety of specialized tasks like, body building, wrestling, weight lifting and judo. Even in Sri Lanka, there have been speciality in bodybuilding. In some religious places, wrestlers are depicted, because, the tradition flourished even in ancient times. Body as main instrument - Manly Sports Today, we focus on such a person who concentrated on his body, as the main instrument of sports. Bodybuilding, weightlifting, wrestling and judo are considered as manly sports. Some of the ingredients for these manly sports are power, vigour, strength and discipline. This great sportsman took a liking to manly sports. He won national honours in bodybuilding, weightlifting, wrestling and judo. He is JEFFREY BENNET SCHUCROFT, judo. One of the nicest gentlemen cum sportsmen, I have met. Out of the manly sports he did not take part in boxing, because of eye-sight problem. He was born on 11th October 1942 at Colombo. His father was R. M. Schucroft, who served in the Port Commission. Mother was a Foenander. In a family of eight, Jeft is the sixth. Younger brother is in Canada. His immediate brother is in London. Jeft Schucroft commenced his school career at De Lasall-Mutuwal. Later, in 1958, during the transition period from English to Sinhala, he joined St. Joseph's College, Grandpass, and completed senior school certificate and higher school certificate in the English medium. Engineering his line From his childhood, he took a liking to the field of engineering. After leaving school, he joined Bonars Company, Marine, Mechanical and Engineering firm as an apprentice. He served in a vessel as a junior engineer in 1963 and persuaded his studies in engineering. After few years, he ventured on his own. He started his own firm Hellenic Engineers at, Staples street Colombo. From there, he started Jeft Engineering in his personal name in 1970. It continued till 1994. The nature of work they did were Barges for the Parliament Complex of Sri Jayawardenapura. Storage Tanks for Ceylon Petroleum (CPC) Corporation, Low lying work like water bowsers and undertook repairs on ships. Jeft Schucroft was the Chairman managing Director of Jeft Engineers and controlled a work force of over 200. Today, he lives a very relaxed life and spends more time for social work. Schucroft was in the body building sports for four decades. In 1963 he become junior Mr. Ceylon. In 1963-1970 won all provincial contests. 1970-1971 Mr. Ceylon, and third Best in Asia. In 1967-1970, he was the Physical Training Instructor at the University of Vidyalankara (University of Kelaniya). He was the President of the Sri Lanka Body Building Federation for over 10 years, Vice President of the Asian Body Building Federation, International and Asian Judge in the said discipline. Further, he was the International Judo Champion, National Wrestling Champion and Body Building Champion. His coach in wrestling was Gorgonis. "Although I was recognised internationally, in my own country they never recognised me," stated Jeft Schucroft. Great men are rarely recognised in their own home, just like the shadow at the bottom of the lamp. In 1985, he organised the Mr. Asia contest, where 16 countries participated. That was the last occasion that this contest was organised in Sri Lanka. With gratitude, he mentioned the names of D. C. Abeywardane, late Vincent Perera, Sports Minister and the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports K. S. Gunasekera. They encouraged him and helped him in numerous ways. First love - sports Schucroft's first love was always sports. Whatever the sport discipline, he did it with commitment devotion and dedication. "These important ingredients, I consider as my success even in my business career" stated Schucroft. "After 1983, problems arose in business, due to the unrest of the country. I treated my workers very well. Individually I can live. Collectively it is very difficult to live. Without workers you cannot work. Colombo Dockyard swallowed most of our work. We have to work sub-construct with them. Therefore, I thought to wind up said Jeft Schucroft. Then, I thought "Enough is Enough." "I was interested in body building because of my brother Malcom. He was attached to police at that time. He was Mr. Kandy. Presently, he is in London. He was Mr. Central Ceylon. He was never a "Mr. Ceylon," but, a class-winner till 1963. Those days we had the Short Man (Under 5'4"), Medium Man (5'7" - down 5'4") and Tall Man (over 5'7") classes. I was Mr. Ceylon and my Hight was 6 feet 2 inches. "I read a lot of books on body building. Jin Ranasinghe, Ronnie Steinwall who is presently living in Australia, and Dougie Roberts, helped in my body building career. They gave me valuable hints," stated Jeft Schucroft. Weight Training important Weight Training is important to any sport. Success will depend on proper training. "A soccer player, for example should possess a good pair of thighs, and strong calf muscles and strong "Deltoids". Even as a tennis player it is important. For a cricketer, fore-arms, and back should be strengthend," stated Schucroft. Today-Physical Training a Business "Today, people have taken physical training as a business. But, I doubt whether anyone is doing it properly with experts. Gymnasiums have cropped over Sri Lanka, but, are there qualified competent instructors to train them properly for special muscle training. You need specialist weight training for the particular part of your body. Anatomy of the body should be trained for the particular sport. If you become musclebound it does not help you. You will only be a showpiece, and it will not help you" stated Schucroft. As an outstanding champion in manly sports, I asked him, what is the most memorable incident in his distinguished sports career? Third in Mr. Asia - 1968 "My first love is body building. My greatest happiness was when I came third in Mr. Asia in 1968. The contest was held in Calcutta. About twenty countries took part in this prestigious contest. "The World and Asian Bodies, Body Federation and the International Federation of Body Builders recognised me for the services that I rendered for the uplift of this discipline" stated Schucroft. He has two daughters. Elder girl Samantha is an undergraduate at University of Lathrob, Melbourne, Australia. His younger daughter Shemalie got married last December to Jusita Dias of Walkers. Outstanding Sports Personality Jeft Schucroft still wrestles on with life. He is an exemplary personality and an outstanding sportsman of this country. In concluding this article I quote Ben Weider CM International President of IFBB - "We believe in total physical fitness - mental as well as physical - and are convinced that best citizens are produced by Educating the Whole Man". Schucroft is a complete man and an ornament to sports disciplined adminstration. |
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