IF you were to look up the definition for Grass Roots Champion then don't be surprised if you saw the name Bill Hindle.

For Bacup-born Bill is every bit the local hero, a true amateur sporting legend and, for someone in his mid-60s -- a triple world champion.

And while most people his age would be looking forward to retirement and drawing their pension, Bill has his sights firmly set on a fourth world title.

Bill, who will be 65-years-old next month, has no intention of bringing his glittering judo career to an end. He has no plans to walk away from the sport he loves.

And he certainly doesn't want to think about pensions!

"I don't think of myself as someone who is about to become a pensioner. I don't feel old. I look after myself and a lot people don't actually believe I am the age I am."

It is fitting that Bill plans to continue well in to his 65th year because he was also a late starter to the sport -- and now looks likely to be a late finisher!

Bill was 31 when he took up the sport -- an age when most people are thinking about packing it in -- and at 40 became the oldest person to represent Great Britain.

"I suppose you can say I was a late starter. I always used to keep myself fit, mainly through boxing and weight lifting, until an old school friend persuaded me to go along to his judo club."

It was the persuasive powers of his old mate Barry Herewood who coaxed him along to Bacup Judo Club and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Up until then, Bill had channelled his energies into Rawtenstall Police Boxing Club and then Bacup Bar Bell Club, where he became a decent weight lifter.

He never even got in to football despite his dad and elder brother playing the game as professionals.

His dad, James Hindle Senior, played for Bacup Borough in the 1930s and was one of the few players to score a hat-trick against the legendary Frank Swift, goalkeeper for Manchester City and England.

His brother, James Hindle Junior played for Burnley and Yeovil Town in the 1950s while his other brother Joe was a decent amateur footballer.

But it was judo where Bill really excelled and, after a few sessions, he realised he was hooked on the martial art. "As soon as I took it up, I realised it was the sport for me. Right from the beginning I had a natural ability to throw people and I took to judo straight away."

Bill, who has lived in Burnley for more than 30 years, achieved his black belt within 12 months and was soon training with the North West Area squad.

Under the guidance of coach Brian Terry, Bill, who stands 5ft 5inch tall, was a force to be reckoned with and went on to win the North West Area finals for an incredible nine consecutive years.

In 1978, Bill, aged 40, was called up to the Great Britain squad and was ranked only second in the country behind Ray Neenan.

In his 12 months in the national squad, Bill competed alongside the great Brian Jacks and Neil Adams who went on to become a world champion.

A cartilage injury curtailed Bill's career and so he went in to coaching. That really should have been that -- and so it was for 20 years.

"I put all my energies in to coaching and that is a side of judo that gives me immense pleasure. I thought the cartilage injury really had ended my career but another chance meeting changed all that."

It came in 1999 when he bumped in to Dave Walker at the British Masters Judo Championship where Bill was purely a spectator.

"Dave told me he had just returned from the first ever World Masters in Canada where he won a silver medal. He told me it was something I should enter and he persuaded me to come out of retirement."

Sure enough, Bill trained hard for the next 12 months and headed for the second World Masters in Nova Scotia where he won gold in the 60-65 years category.

A year later he repeated the feat in Arizona then clinched a hat-trick of titles in Derry, Northern Ireland last year. "Winning it for the first time was a great feeling but some people might have thought it was a fluke. I defended the title to prove it wasn't and to win it a third time proved I was a worthy champion.

"For me that was the best of the lot. My family were all there to cheer me on so it was fantastic to be crowned world champion in front of them."

This year's final was held in Japan -- the home of Judo -- where Bill was confident of winning a fourth world title. But it wasn't to be. "To compete in the home of judo was always my biggest ambition. The finals were held at the Kodo Kan School of Judo where few people get to compete.

"I was very honoured by I was badly effected by the heat and that cost me my title."

Now Bill is planning one more shot at regaining his world crown.

He said: "I really thought I was going to win it this year but it wasn't to be.

"I was going to retire but I want to go out as a world champion so I will be back next year."

Perhaps then, Bill can grow old gracefully -- and start thinking about drawing his pension!

Thisislancashire's special Pride of East Lancashire section...