WOMEN WRESTLERS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 17 June 1933, Page 8

WOMEN WRESTLERS

EXHIBITION IN HULL BELGIAN TEAM PREPARED. CHALLENGE TO, BRITAIN. Not content ■with filling the expensive ringside seats at all-in wrestling bouts, Avomcn are now ambitious to give exhibition's in the ring of their own peculiar abilities in the contests. Women’s all-in wrestling bouts were arranged at Hull-,- It. was promised by •the promoters that they would be more adequately clothed than are men combatants.

At a preliminary exhibition women wrestlers wore tight-fitting bathing costumes. They refrained also from nose and ear-twisting and appeared quite ignorant of the grosser ways of finishing-off an opponent.

Belgium is anxious tO' challenge Great” Britain, to an international contest for the women’s world championship A manager named McGill has issued a challenge. “My team is composed of the following champion girls,” he says: “Elisa van Audin* ■berkc, champion of Europe air catch* 1 as-catch-can; Helsa Meeurs, European champion at the American all-in wrestling style; Irma Smits; bantamweight; Mathilda Samyn, -welterweight; Jennv Neys, featherweight; and Mary Janssens, heavyweight.”

The matter has reached the House of Commons. “In my view public',-.ex-hibition of all-in wrestling between women are open to tho strongest objections,’’ declared .Sir John Gilmour. the Home .Secretary. _ “I am making inquiry and will consider what action can appropriately be taken. I understand that an exhibition arranged at Hull has been abandoned. My inquiries are not yet complete. I am not vet. in a position to say whether legislation is necessary, but I can assure tho House that I am giving the matter very careful attention.” (Cheers. y

Mr Pyke (Con., Sheffield): “In view of public indignation at these revolting displays, will you hasten your decision?”

That was too much for Lady Astor, ever the champion,, of women’s “ rigb ts. ” *“O h, why'? ’’she in t erj acted.' When the laughter had died down she demanded spiritedly: “If women want to wrestle have they not just as much right to wrestle as men?” The Home Secretary made no attempt to tackle that poser. But .Sir Joseph Nall (Con., Hulme) said: “Will the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Home Secretary) agree that if women desire to have a drink afterward they should be allowed -to have one?” (More cheers.) “But in the prescribed hours,” added Lady Astor.

The question of all-in wrestling contests for women is at the moment on the lap of the gods. Meanwhile Paris is staging, its first public exhibition of a women’s boxing match. It will be. between Cyclone Tamery, a buxom, platinum blonde of all-round, proportions, and Battling d’Alal, a negress.