Businessmen get to grips with their problems the sumo way.

COMPANY directors are thrashing out their problems the Japanese way.

Blue chip heavyweights such as MBNA, Bank of Scotland, Aventis and Corus squared up to each other at a corporate training event yesterday - to try out sumo wrestling.

The ancient national sport was chosen to bring out their natural competitiveness and teach them how to transfer it to the cut and thrust of the business world.

Patrick Ramsammy, director of training and service management for WBB Minerals, was one of the wrestlers.

He said: 'I'm quite surprised at the level of enjoyment I had.

'I would use this type of activity for social bonding. It brought out our natural competitive nature at the same time as helping us build as a team.'

The free event was organised by team development specialists PAGE Training, based in Nantwich.

The region's leading companies turned up to Grosvenor Pulford Hotel, near Chester, where their executives' skills were also put to the test in blind driving, archery and clay pigeon shooting sessions.

And the training could also be adopted by Cheshire Constabulary.

Katrina Turner, training advisor for the force, said: 'I came looking for an idea of what's available in the area and I gleaned ideas and did lots of networking

CAPTION(S):

PAGE Training managing director Penny Edge with wrestlers Patrick Ramsammy and Barry Turner, of WBB Minerals Picture: TONY CLIXBY