GOLIATHS OF THE MAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 710, 9 July 1929, Page 13

GOLIATHS OF THE MAT

QUARTET OF WRESTLERS FOR AUCKLAND

STIRRING MATCHES PROMISED Wrestlers in plenty are due to arrive on the Niagara on Monday from America, and Aucklanders I can look forward to such displays ! which excited the sporting com- | munity of this city at the end of j last year, when John Kilonis and j Pat McCarthy put up such strik- ' ing exhibitions. Three wrestlers are visiting New ) Zealand under contract to the New Zealand Wrestling Association, and, ! with the addition of Tom Alley, who is i already here, the quartet should pro- j Vide some memorable encounters. i The arrivals on Monday will be : Farmer Vance, Walter Joansen and j Marraci Garden!. The secretary of the association, Mr. C. McCarthy, told The Sun today that the first of a series of matches would probably commence in about a fortnight. By that time the visitors will have become acclimatised and in fit condition for the strenuous sport. Alley has been in Auckland for three weeks and has been training on the Takapuna Beach. He reports himself to be in fine condition and ready to tackle any of the other visitors. All the wrestlers have good records. Farmer Vance has held the light-heavy-weight and heavy-weight championships of Canada. He was recently defeated by George Walker for the heavy-weight title, but he still retains the other. During the past two years, Stadiums, Ltd., of Australia has made repeated efforts to secure his services, but owing' to business reasons he has declined. He is a spectacular performer, and is known in Canada as the "wrestling farmer.” He is 33 years of age, and weighs about 33 stone. Waiter Joansen was born in Finland 28 years ago. and migrated to the United States six years ago, and travelled about the country with Paavo Nurmi, the great Finnish runner. Before leaving his native country Joansen won the light-heavy-weight championship of Finland and in all competed in about 70 matches, winning all but 12. He weigh 12st. 101 b. Marraci Gardeni hails from Chicago, where he has been a great favourite among the Italians. Until three years ago he was wrestling instructor to the Y.M.C.A., Chicago, and since then has been in demand all over the Eastern States on account of his wrestling ability. He was nominated as Chicago's representative at the Olympic Games. He is 29 years of age and weighs 12st. 71b. The association has been negotiating with Clarence Eklund, light-heavy-weight champion of the world, to defend his title in a match in Auckland during this season. Mr. McCarthy says that the best of the light-heavy-weights visting Australia will be seen i naction in Auckland, in addition to the men brought, over from the United States by the association, and if Eklund can be persuaded to defend his title a worthyopponent will be found for him.