HEENEY NEW ZEALAND’S GREATEST AMBASSADOR

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 456, 11 September 1928, Page 13

HEENEY NEW ZEALAND’S GREATEST AMBASSADOR

BOXERS entertained presentation of trophies “Tom Heeney is the greatest .mbassador who ever left this country” said Mr. E. A. Craig, of the Northern Boxing Association, at a smoke concert in tho Chamber of Commerce last evening. Tba entertainment was in honour of (he successful boxers at tho Auckland Provincial amateur championships. Tom Heeney was the principal guest Ind ho received a rousing welcome from the largo number of guests pr number of people had left tho Dominion with testimonials and credentials, said Mr. Craig, but Heeney had left without these things and had proved a great unofficial ambassador. He had not won the championship but he had done the next best thing, being the runner-up with great courage. Reports from Australia, England and America had ali proved that Heeney always pleased tho crowd and fought from the beginning to the end. Out of the goodness of his nature, said Mr. Craig, Heeney had visited two hospitals during the afternoon, the general hospital and the Evelyn Firth Home. The guests then rose and sang “For He's a Jolly Good Fellow” in English and iu Maori, concluding with cheers for Tom and Mrs. Heeney. When Heeney rose to reply he received another great reception. * Tho Americans were the greatest sports in the world, he said. In this country and in other parts of Britain people were led to believe that to win “you have to put them on the floor,” but this was incorrect. “They don’t care what you are. There are bad decisions, but there are bad decisions in New Zealand.” He expressed his thanks to Mr. Craig and the N.B.A. fox* the entertainment provided for his friends from Gisborne and for his mother and father. WILL SETTLE IN NEW ZEALAND “Don’t think because I married an American girl that I am American,” he said; “because when I have finished there we will settle here.” An anonymous donor, said Mr. Craig, had presented a belt, to be known as the Heeney belt, to commemorate Tom’s pluck in his fights across the seas. The belt would bo for competition in the heavy-weight in the Auckland provincial '‘championships, but owing to the scarcity of heavy-weight boxers the committee was empowered to award the belt in another division. On behalf of tho committee Mr. J. Russell, chairman, presented Mr. Craig with a large group photograph. Tom Heeney and Mr. Craig pre-

sented the trophies to the winners as follow: Fly-weight.—F. Pearcey; runner-up, A. Special medal presented, by the N.8.A., R. Purdie. Bantam-weight.-— E. Davies; runner-up, L. Bailey. Special medal presented by Mr. G. Welson, L. Bailey. Feather-weight.—G. Leslie; runner-up, A. Craig. IJght-weight.—A. Jones; runner-up, C. Craig. Special medal presented by the N.8.A., M. Perzer. Welter-weight.—J. G. Forsyth; runnerup, F. Fraei. Middle-weight.—W. Pitcher; runner-up, A. Shadbolt. Special medal presented by tho Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, C. J. Brown. Light-heavy-weight. P. McCarthny; runner-up, T. Mullins. Heavy-weight.—P. McCarthny. Craig Cup for the most scientific boxer.—F. Pearcey. Ivohn Shield for the motet successful .trainer.—Eugene Donovan. Items were given by the Orpheans Jazz Band, songs by Mr. J. McMinn, Mr. Allen, Mr. W. Dickson, Mr. J. Hogan and Mr. Marks. Mr. F. Rabbi 11 gave a novelty whistling turn and Mr. Norman Tate an exhibition of balancing and juggling.