HIGH STANDARD REVEALED

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 4

HIGH STANDARD REVEALED

OTAGO AMATEUR WRESTLING TITLES REACH IN FINE FORM

[By Hookee.]

The Otago amateur wrestling championships provided good competition, and the standard generally was high, showing that the sport is making steady progress in Dunedin. The outstanding wrestler was Frank Keach, the New Zealand light-weight champion, who actually wrestled better than he has ever done in his own town, winning five matches for the loss of only one bad point. _ His speed and accuracy in working his holds were the dominant factors that enabled him to get his opponents into a pinning position. His physical fitness was to be admired, and there is no doubt that he will take a lot of beating in his class at the New Zealand championships. He undoubtedly deserved the Thorn Belt for the most scientific wrestler, this being the second occasion on which ho has been the holder.

Next to Keach, one of the best performers was Neil Thomson, who was runner-up to Keach in the light-weight class. Thomson was 11b under the fea-ther-weight limit the night before the tournament, but unfortunately _ he could not make the weight on the night, and was 11b over, having to wrestle in a higher class, in tvhich he met some tough propositions. Until the final he did not lose a point, but then he had to strike his colours to Frank Keach, wrestling at his best. Although Thomson did not concede a fall, he would have done better had he taken more risks, as Be had everythoing to gain and nothing to lose through naving to step into a class of weightier men. Andy Tdour was very consistent in retaining his welter-weight title, and, although he struck more serious competition than was the case last year, he was generally in the ascendancy, and may be looked to for a tip-top performance at the New Zealand championships. Harrv Stevens and Harry Vient each gave Tdour good opposition, but Tdour always had a little in reserve. Stevens, however, displayed some of the science of which he is capable, and had he begun training a little earlier he might still more seriously have troubled Tdour, but on the night the latter had more vigour and finish. The feather-weight champion,' L. Hastie. is a much-improved wrestler, but can count himself fortunate in not having had to wrestle Fred Freeman or Neil either of whom would have made things very- hard for him. Hastie will how prbbahly have his first opportunity of contesting a-New. Zealand championship, and the experience should do him good. He is. full of dash and determination, but, as he is likely to meet particularly good class, ho will require to concentrate very seriously on his work. The bantam-weight winner was Jimmy Donaldson, who' is a clever ' wrestler, hut he should certainly have had more training, as he did not appear to wrestle so well as when he won his title last year. He may perhaps count himself fortunate in retaining the championship and thus qualifying for a trip to Christchurch.

By winning the middle-weight championship, R. Tourrell gained his second Otago title, having previously been successful in the welter-weight division. He Vrestled very consistently throughout, but appeared just a. trifle slow, probably due to the fact that he hadi t 6 make weight to get into the class. Considering that he had a sprained hand, Len. Goughian put up a fine performance, and once again emerged with the light heavy-weight title. He is wrestling as well as ever, and, with any luck, might easily win another New Zealand title.

E. Swain, the heavy-weight champion, had little opposition, hut did all that was asked of him to gain representative honours.