A fireman from Pilgrims Hatch has set the world of judo ablaze after grabbing two bronze medals in an Olympic-style competition for firefighters.

James Chapman, of Hatch Road, was selected to represent England at judo in the eighth World Firefighters Games held in Sheffield.

The 29-year-old, who is based in Hackney, holds a brown belt in judo and competed in two weight categories against firefighters from France, Sweden, Canada and Brazil.

James, who is married to financial accountant Nina, took up judo at the age of eight, drifted away to rugby and only returned to the mat a couple of years ago.

He is now a member of the London Fire Brigade Judo Club based at Dartford.

James said: "Judo keeps me strong and very, very fit which is important in my job. As a firefighter you need a lot of upper body strength to enable you to carry people out of buildings."

Unlike the Olympics, the World Firefighters Games take place every two years at different venues throughout the world.

This year the competition was jointly hosted by the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Humberside Fire Brigade.

Published Friday September 17, 2004

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