BOXING

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27735, 12 August 1955, Page 15

BOXING

CHAMPIONSHIPS AT I ST. BEDE’S I E CLOSE AND WILLING i CONTESTS J J The most remarkable feature of an en- I tertaining programme at the St. Bede’s ] College annual boxing championships last < evening was that in nearly 50 rounds of boxing it was not necessary, even once, , for the referee to call on the boxers to J break. If the boys in bout after bout pre- I ferred to stand off to swing their punches * —there was hardly any in-fighting at any <; time—it did not detract from the enjoy- « ment they provided. There was perhaps more energy and enterprise than skill and artistry in many of the bouts, but several of the boxers did show real promise, and the cheerful willingness of the others was fair compensation. The organisation of the tournament was extraordinarily good. Those in charge managed to keep to their set programme with accuracy, all the ring arrangements were first class, and the 17 bouts were put through in two hours. Before the special awards were announced at the end of the tournament the rector (the Rev. Father J. Bourke) said that there had been no tournament last year because there had been insufficient entries, but this year the number of boys taking boxing had increased considerably. It had been necessary to have 42 preliminary bouts before the finals. The special awards were:—O’Shaughnessey memorial shield and prize, A. , Archer; Egden Cup and Mr C Rundle’s prize for the most scientific boxer, A. Meredith; Heslop Cup for the gamest loser, W. Wright; Kotlowski Cur for the most improved boxer, A. O’Sullivan; school prize for the most proxnisinf boxer under Bst, C. Harris; the Old Boys’ Cup for the winner of the grade with the most entries, P. O’Brien. The referee was Mr A. Thompson, the judges Messrs C. Rundle and P. Laffey, and the timekeeper the Rev. Father L. Evatt. In the lOst 71b grade M. Bradley and W. Wright gave a very vigorous display, with Bradley, slightly more aggressive, enjoying a clear advantage in the last round only. Wright stood up to some heavy punishment well and merited his award for the gamest loser. He must have been closely pressed for this distinction by Jim Gresham, who succumbed to O’Brien’s longer reach and rather quicker punching. G. Nisbet, in the Est 71b A grade, was nerhaps the unluckiest loser of the evening. Cool and confident, he punched methodically and xfrell, and although K. Coakley landed some effective punches early in the second round, he was a little fortunate to finish in front. M. O’Neill and J. Houston were a hard-hitting pair in the Bst 71b B grade. They were very evenly matched, and each was more than steadied once or twice by heavy punches. The bout was stopped in the second round after O’Neill had taken two heavy blows. A. Meredith and M. Walsh provided one of the brightest bouts, and Meredith Droved himself an accomplished boxer. This bout was fought at a rousing pace, with Walsh ever willing to mix it, and he ran a better boxer to a close decision through his willingness to absorb blows to get close enough to a taller opponent to land some telling punches himself. One of the many southpaws in the tournament, E. Hobbs won the 7st grade fairly comfortably from D. Johnston. Hobbs held the initiative in the first round, and used both hands effectively while moving in consistently in the second. Johnston made up some leeway near the end, but Hobbs had by then established a good lead. D. Cotter and T. Craddock (9st) and C. O’Leary and A. O’Sullivan (9st 71b) (A grade) all .showed tremendous enthusisam and energy and considerable skill. Of these four, Craddock did especially well. He is a quick and solid puncher with both hands. B. Meikle won the list grade, well from J. Faumuina, who looked a formidable hitter in the first round, but whose pace departed under Meikle’s good and usually straight hitting. The open championship was won by Archer, whose long left was used effectively. M. Jellie went in. head down and arms swinging, in an attempt to recover the ground he lost in the first round, but Archer was able to keep him off without undue trouble. Results:— 6st.—N. Catherwood (sst 91b) beat D. McCleary (6st). 6st 71b B.—M. Heenan (6st lib) beat D. Bradley (6st 21b). 6st 71b A.—K. Coakley (6st 71b) beat G: Nisbet (6st 71b). 7st.—E. Hobbs (6st 101 b) beat D. Johnston (7st). 7st 71b.—8. James (7st 71b) beat M. Oliver (7st 71b). Bst B.—C. Harris (7st 101 b) beat John Gresham (7st 121 b). Bst A.—P. O’Brien /(7st Ulb) beat Jim Gresham (Bst). , Bst 71b B.—Ji Houston (Bst 41b) beat M. O’Neill (Bst 41b 1. Bst 71b A.—A. Farrell (Bst 71b) beat D. Hannan (Bst 61b). Ost.—T. Cradock (Bst 101 b) beat D. Cotter (9st). 9st 71b B.—P. Cowie (Ost 41b) beat W. Jury (Ost 21b). Ost 71b A.—A. O’Sullivan (Ost 51b) beat C. O’Leary (9st 51b). lOst B.—P. Etheridge (9st Ulb) beat P. Callaghan (9st 101 b). lOst A.—A. Meredith (lOst) beat M. Walsh (Ost 121 b). lOst 71b.—M. Bradley (lOst 41b) beat W. Wright (lOst 71b). list.—B. Meikle (lOst Ulb) beat J. Faumuina (lOst 81b). Open.—A. Archer (list 71b) beat M. Jellie (list 71b).