Chris Sutton carries on achieving, year after year
Chris Sutton has won nine medals in as many years.
CHRIS Sutton is without a doubt one of the premier wrestling veterans in his weight division in the country.
He recently returned from the world champs in Macedonia with an incredible ninth medal in as many years, this time a silver having being beaten in the final by fellow South African Monty de Beer.
Chris sets high standards for himself and is a bit upset that he never seized the opportunity to get gold. He said the tactics he used were wrong but that it does happen in any sport.
Incidentally, it is the first time ever that two South African wrestlers competed in the Veteran World Wrestling Championship final.
The RECORD spoke to Chris about his wrestling, as well as his rugby coaching at Hoërskool Dinamika, where two years ago he was coaching the first team that were crowned as Golden Lions Champions.
When and why did you get involved in wrestling?
I started wrestling at the tender age of about 10. As a child, I actually never wanted to take up wrestling but was basically forced to by my dad. The first club I started competitive wrestling at was in Ridgeway (located in the South of Johannesburg (Crown Gardens area).
When was the first time you achieved something of consequence?
The first major tournament I won was the SA Schools Championships, I was 17. I started training with the senior wrestlers at the police wrestling club at the then John Vorster Square Police Station. After I finished my matric, I joined the SAPS and went to the police college in Pretoria.
There I was selected to wrestle for the SAP National Wrestling Team for about two years.
While in the police, stationed at Johannesburg Central Police Station, I was requested to join the Witwatersrand Rugby Club, also known as Johannesburg Bobbies.
In my first year of playing, I was selected to tour with the first team to Taiwan. This was a major achievement for any young player. I played first team for the Bobbies for more than 10 years. I was selected from time to time to represent the Police National Team.
What position did you play?
I started out playing hooker. Due to my wrestling skills, they then started selecting me as the loosehead prop, as well as tighthead prop. I did not like the tighthead prop, as I considered myself too small for that position.
Did your rugby career go any further?
Yes. In 1992, I was chosen for the Kwaggas and Rooibokke, I was part of the Transvaal training team coached by Harry Viljoen. During this period, I played one game for Transvaal.
During 1994/1995, I was part of the Transvaal team coached by Kitch Christie. I was fortunate to get three caps for Transvaal.
Tell us about your rugby coaching.
In 1998, I started coaching at Alberton Junior Rugby Club. I was given the u-9s. I moved on with them to u-18 level.
I started coaching the u-14s at Dinamika in 2010. I coached that team from u-14 to the first team.
In 2017, the Dinamika first team played again in the Golden Lion School finals for big schools and beat Hoërskool Linden in the dying moments of the game. This was a big achievement as it was the first time Dinamika’s first team won this trophy.
How did you get back into wrestling?
My son started wrestling at Alberton Wrestling Club and I use to take him there for practice. About a year after he started wrestling, he was chosen to wrestle in a major tournament. At this competition, somebody recognised me and asked the coaches why they do not use me as a coach at the wrestling club. That is how I got back into wrestling.
First, by coaching and then, later on, by training with some of the senior wrestlers. I started training again although I was very cautious with my knee.
Before I knew it, the club nominated me to partake in the SA Masters Wrestling Championships.
At the second SA Wrestling Master Championships that I won, I was approached by Willem Putter and Francois Pienaar (both masters wrestlers). They asked if I wanted to join them in the masters wrestling team touring to Switzerland to partake in the World Veterans Wrestling Championships.
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