ASSAULT-AT-ARMS

Evening Post, Issue 98, 27 April 1936, Page 4

ASSAULT-AT-ARMS

NOVEL ENTERTAINMENT

A novel form of entertainment, embodying skilled exposition of nearly every variety of the art of self-defence, was presented in the'Town'Hall on Friday night by the New Zealand Smith Family Joyspreaders (Inc.) with' the assistance of the Royal Navy and the Wellington Boxing and Wrestling Associations. The assault-at-arms.;included not only excellent boxing and wrestling matches, and a jiu-jitsu demonstration, but also contests of a type seldom seen in Wellington, with sabres, foils,; and bayonets. The attendance in view of the standard of the entertainment .was disappointing. ' \ '■'- '/■■'■"'■■' The first bout was a boxing exhibition of four rounds between two naval men, R.M. Ryan and . A.B. Fulton. The foils contest between P.O. Wooding and A.B. Hilliard that: followed was a novelty to most of the audience, particularly in. respect of the jacket and cage-like face guards worn by the contestants. Although no decision was given, it appeared that P.O. .Wooding won by three points to two.■■:•■;; Later in the programme there was another foils match between D. G. McNab and C. Davidson. ■ ". -;, : : ■■■**■- "

Two exhibitions of sabre % fighting were given, the first, a very fast match; between Sub.-Lieutenant Gillespie, and P.O. Wooding, the second between A.8.: Hilliard and A.B. Redman, in which Hilliard showed a very sound defence. Sub.-Lieutenant Gillespie fought J\;B. Hilliard in a closely-contested final. There were two matches with special spring bayonets between R.P.O. Parr yen and R.M. Wood and R.M. King and R.M. Allen respectively. The Jenkins School gave an excellent ju-jitsu demonstration. : :

W. G. Parris and M. Wardham gave a free-hitting boxing exhibition iri which Parris's longer reach gave him' a; slight advantage. W. G. Parris later fought L. Parris. Dickie Burns and Billy New-

ton also took part ,in a .three-round boxing bout. An exhibition of not-so-serious wrestling was given by P.O. Ryan and S. 'A. Cutts. D. Rigarlsiford secured a win on ■points from T. Maddock in what was predominantly a head-lock contest. A. ■Mulholland secured,two falls by means, of- body presses following a flying tackle and an aeroplane spin respectively from A. Tomlinson, who took one fall with a very fine flying scissors. One of the best events of the evening was a three-round wrestling match between L. Hancock and B. Scholes. The pace was: very fast throughout, spectacular flying tackles were frequent, and nearly every type of hold ■'. was tried. The standard of wrestling, throughout,the evening was exceedingly high.