ACTIVE SEASON

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 57, 23 March 1937, Page 15

ACTIVE SEASON

H.B. Boxing Assoclation's Work

ANNUAL REPOKf

"For a number of years past the Hawke's Bay Boxing' Association has been one of the most aetive promoting organisations in the sport of boxing in New Zealand, and it is pleasing to note that again last season the association was very much to the fore in staging professional contests and, at the same time, keeping the sport well in the limelight in this district," states the annual report of the Hawke's Bay Association to be presented at the generai meeting oa Wednesday night in Hastings. The report states that during the season six professional contests wero staged, and that it was doubtful whether there had been more than this number held in any one season for a good number of years. It would be readily Been that, in catering for the members and others interested in the sport, the executive had provided very generous fare. Unfortunately. the promoting of contests cpntinued to be a very hazardjus undertaking, and despite rigid ecoiiomy in the management of the contests only one aetually had ehown a jxroiit. • • f ' " There is very jeal difficulty in arrangihg professional contests with sufficieht drawing power, and in this reepect 'Hawke's Bay is not the only eufferer," says the report. "This factor was Tealised very aarly in the season, end it was decided to import a professional boxer. Thet f esult of negotiations in this direcfion was that the Australian feather and junior lightweight champion, Joe Hall, was engaged and he.was seen in action against three different opponents in Hastings, Trouble was experienced in securing other opponents for him." The professional contests staged during the season were as follow; — Hall beat Clarrie Rayner, Hall beat Percy Hawea, Eayner beat Bobby Delaney, Hall beat Neville Mudgway, A1 Stock beat Rayner, and Rayner beat Stock.

Among the Amateurs. tTnlike previous years, the association did not stage the same number of amatetir tournaments last year, only one atrictly amateur fixture being held— the Hawke's Bay provincial championships. As a flnancial venture it was a splendid success and indicated most clearly that iix this district amateur boxing continued to be held in high favour. Erom a purely boxing aspect, unfortunately the tournament was not the outstanding success that had been hoped owing to a number of competitors being unable to compete for various reasons. In this regard attention is drawn to the number of defaults noted, not only at the last championships but at previous tournaments, and it is eonsidered that it would be in the interests of boxing in this district that the incoming executive investigate this matter and endeavour to find some satisfactdry solution. It is suggested, only for consideration, that the payment of an entry fee should be flxed and the fee refunded to the compotitor when he attended the me'dical examination. Reverting again to amateur boxing, the report states that it was pleasing to note that, though the association staged only one strictly amateur night, the many youngsters in the game at present had plenty of opportunity of appearing in the ring. There were the six professional contests staged, and the preliminaxy programmes comprising amateur bouts were" a big part of the tournaments, Then again there was much good work done by the Hawke 's Bay Gymnastic and Boxing Club, who staged several "open nights/' and generaliy performed a very valuable service to amateur boxing in this district. A little farther south the Waipukurau Boxing Ciub was again very aetive and stagea several tournaments, makmg calls on the servicea of Hastings boxers. The private boxing ciubs also played a very useful part, and teams of Hawke Bay boys visited Gisborne, Dannevirke,

mad Palmerston North. Pour amateurs, A. Kitt, Bert McKay, "Buster" Boyle and Brian McKay repreSente.d the province at the natxonai championships, and it was indeed pleasing to reeord that once again the province produced a champion, Brian McKay, of Waipukurau, wxnnmg the bantam title. Por the iiret time in Hawke 's Bay the 10 one:minute-round bouts for novices wercMntrodueed and proved, a great success. A challenge cup wa> presented by Mr. Donald Campbell for this series, and the holders are Te Aute College, who defeated Waimarama after the latter had held the cup three times. Cungratulatxons are extended to the Parkvale School on again proving the champion team of the district by winning the Ormond Cup, and it is hoped that this competition will continue to be popular,

Pinancea Sound. The financial position of the association has been greatly consolidated during the past year, and the association x» now on a much. better footing. This was made possible by participation in the Hastings Bathing Belle competition. Miss Ruth Connop bexng the boxing candidate. The full thanks of the association is due to Miss Connop and all those who were associated with* her in the competition. In still another direetion the revenue was enhanced, and this was in the generous support given the association by boxing enthusiaats in providing guarantees in regard to the visit of Joe Hall. The membership of the association continues to be satisfactory, but.it will be necessary for the incoming executive to augment the membership during the coming season. The r&port concludes by expressing thanks and appreciation to all those who in any way assisted the executive in its work during the season.