The Provincial Championships.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 30

The Provincial Championships.

The tourney for tho provincial championships of the various classes conducted by tho local association (luring tho week was remarkable chiefly for its similarity to most amateur tournaments as wo know them. On tho part of tho boxers participating thoro was tho samo old "willingness" which too often is made tho substitute for, instead of being tho accompaniment ot skill, and condition. There were the same old swings, tho same old fulling over their own feet, and all the «M characteristics of the self-taught and untaught amateur. As redeeming features— and it is theso features that make these.' tournaments so well worth while-there were also the same old earnest endeavour, the samo grit and ruggednoss, and tho same old good temper displayed under, at times, very aggravating circumstances. And there was also that most desirable slate of affairs--evory contestant, good, bad, or middling, was most obviously a trier.

Tho arrangements were good mi tho whole. There was a very acceptable lack of waits between tile l>outs, and although the programme as printed and distributed was not adhered to, for reasons referred to below, the dulcet tones of Mr. "Announcer" Galo kept those present iu touch with what was going on, and generally things ran very _ smoothly. As usual tho ofhcials had to contend with several defections at the last moment among the entrants, hence the enforced changes on the programme nlroady referred to. Two or three of those nominated failed to pass the medical examination, or were unablo to make the weight for tho classes they had entered for, and one or two others had sustained injuries in their tiviining bouts that precluded their stripping for action, all of which necessarily exercised tho executive considerably in arranging tho bouts. Nevertheless, ample entertainment for each evening was provided, and the tournament 'generally deserved a larger measure of public support tlinn was accorded it.

The Tracy-Kerr Exhibition. An interesting featuro of the second night's programme—a very solid ono throughout—was an exhibition four twominute rounds between' Tim Tracy and Freddy Kerr. The two ox-champions, professional light-weight and amateur feather, put_ on a very fast and instructive bout, Kerr showing many a glimpse of his old speed and t.rickines'=. The turn was a popular one, and the performers received a good "hand" from the house.

The Form at the Town Hall. The details of tho various contests have been well covered in the daily columns, so it is not tho intention to deal witih them individually now. A general review of the form displayed by tho moro prominent of the championship aspirants will suffice, and in this connection it must bo admitted that, with tin? possible exception of tho bantam ami teather-wcight classes, it is hard to see how Wellington is to bo represented at this year's New Zealand championships by a team capable of annexing for the province a fair share of the coveted titles. That is, of course, if the selection is confined to tho contestants on Tuesday and Wednesday. The bantams were a very sound lot. Two of them have outside reputations—(J. M'Nicholl is the champion at tho weight in Christchurch, and H. W. Brico, now of Wellington, is credited with some good performances in England. Those two reached the final, although in the work-ing-out process B. Andrews, a local lad, Bhowed up very promisingly. Brico showed some agility on his feet, and has a nice long left that he uses efficiently, He evinced evidences of previous cxperiencw in the way he protected himself in tho closo work, although M'Nicoll found a weakness here, and scored very frequently oil his ribs with a jolting right. After three good rounds, in which M'Nicoll started slowly, and had to work off a big points deficit in tho third — chiefly by means of a good left and the right to tho body above mentioned, Mr. Sampson could not separate them. In tho extra session Brico's ring craft served him well, and brought him home a closo winner over a' clever lad.

T'lio feathers were also well up to standard. J. Korewa put up a good go against the elusive P. Leary, who met Ben Tracy in the final, and ran out champion in this division, and also tho winner of Mr. L. George's medal for the most scientific display. As "Mercury" hos said before, could Leary acquire a punch, ho would be a very formidable feather-weight. M it is, ho is a elever boxer, good with hands, head, and feet, and it is no disgrace to his older adversary that tho decision went against him.

Tracy is a (jood boxer, but ho has stiffened up during his retirement, and at times Leary made his work look almost clumsy. Tracy, too, minimised his chances by evincing a tendency to rough it when the tide set in against him, and he must have lost a goodly total of points through his doubtful tactics at this stage. In the light division there was only one competitor who displayed real boxing ability. This was J. Hunter—a nom do guerre, by the way—who was making his first ring appearance. Ho worked a good stopping left for 'all it was worth, which against the round-arm "sluggers" he met, was a good, deal, and he gives promise of being heard of later. As already hinted, his opponents in the semifinal and final—J. Smith and J. Macfarlane—had little 'to .recommend them. Smith was the better of the two. . In addition to a hard punch, he possesses /durabjlity, but his work is marred by excessive wildness. Macfarlano was equally wild. Ho failed to ]srovo that ho carries a "punch," and seemingly from the way he signalled for the towel ho lacks durability.

F. Flan won the welter in one contest. His opponent, D. Ryder, put up a game battle, and proved to be clever to a degree in ducking. Ho constantly nonplussed Flan, but overworked the ducking business, and threw away a good chance by using his head to dodge punishment when die should havo been putting in a little punishment' on, his own account. Tho form displayed was just about average, and 110 more.

The middles were not good. Easily the best was A. Dalziell, a visitor from tho Manawatu, and the new champion in the class. He showed average ability, but fell short of New Zealand form by a good deal.

The heavy-weight division emulated tho snakes in Ireland. They didn't exist. Of tho five entries received thera was not ono starter, so tho competition was cancelled.