WEIGHT-LIFTING

Evening Star, Issue 24056, 1 December 1941, Page 4

WEIGHT-LIFTING

SOUTH ISLAND TOURNAMENT OTAGO WINS INTERPROVINCIAL CUP The South Island interprovincial weightlifting championships were held in Dunedin for the first time on Saturday night, when they were conducted in the R.S.A. Hall by the Otago Weight-lifters’ Association. Two thoroughly representative teams from Otago and Canterbury participated, and Marlborough was also represented in the lightclass. The competitors included three holders of New Zealand titles, these being F. May (Canterbury), the bantam-weight champion ; J. Beveridge (Otago), feather-weight champion; and W. Massetti (Canterbury), light-heavy-weight champion. Unfortunately, owing to recent illness, D. Freeman (Otago), the light-weight champion, was unable to compete, but he had charge of the secretarial arrangements of the meeting. The competition consisted of the three Olympic lifts in each class, these comprising the military press, snatch, and clean-and-jrk. The Jeffries Cup for the teams’ contest was won by Otago, with 24 points, Canterbury totalling 22. A large audience was provided with some very keen contests, which were interspersed with items. The outstanding performance was put up by M. Fcarnley (Canterbury), who is only 19 years of age. In winning the middle-weight class, Fearnley registered a total of 5901 b, which would have been good enough to win the New Zealand championship. He was runner-up in this event in October with a total of 5601 b. Although the Dominion light-weight champion, D. Freeman, did not compete, his brother, F. Freeman, carried Otago's colours to victory in this division, registering a total of 5051 b. In the feather-weight class Canterbury’s representative was J./Genet, the Empire Games wrestler, but he was over-weight, and although he registered the best actual total was beaten by the Otago lifter, J. Beveridge, the event being decidd according to body weight. One of the best performers was the Otago heavy-weight, J. oJhnson, wbos total of 6101 b was considerably higher than the winning effort of V. Osmond at the New Zealand championships, in which Johnson could not compote. Johnson was particularly impressive in the press, in which he raised 2001 b. The referee was Mr H. Baldock, the judges L. Green and D. Freeman, and the scorer Mr C. Munro. The results were as follows (the weights given being for press, snatch, clean-and-jerk, and total respectively):— Bantam-weight. —F. May (Canterbury, 8.511 b), 115-115-150, 3801 b, 1; N. Taylor (Otago, 8.10), 110—100—105, 3151 b, 2. Feather-weight.—J. Beveridge (Otago, 8.12!,V, 140—135—180, 4551 b. 1; J. Genet (Canterbury, 9,12|), 155—135—180, 4701 b, 2. In this class Genet was 6|lb over-weight, and the competition was decided on the Austin formula, in which the result is decided according to body weight. Light-weight.—F. Freeman (Otago, 9.111), 150—160—195. 5051 b, 1; O. 1. Tail (Marlborough, 10.3 J), 150—150—195, 4951 b, 2; W. Tewnion (Canterbury, 10.11). 120—115—135, 3701 b, 3. Middle-weight.—M. Fcarnley (Canterbury, 11.131), 175—180—235, 5901 b, 1; G. McKay (Otago, 11.3), 150-150-180, 4801 b, 2. Light-heavy-weight.—W. Massetti (Canterbury, 12. ii), 165-160—200, 5251 b, 1; L. Simpson (Otago. 11.11). 115—125—165, 4051 b, 2. Heavy-weight.—J. Johnson (Otago, 14.7), 200—180—230, 6101 b. 1; R. Whiting (Canterbury, 14.5 J), 155-165-205. 5151 b, 2. The visiting competitors were entertained after the tournament at a social and dance in the Wilson Hall, and the presentation of trophies took place. Yesterday afternoon they were the guests of the Otago Weightlifters’ Association on a trip to the Taievi.