BOXING AND WRESTLING

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1939, Page 8

BOXING AND WRESTLING

OBEY ASSOCIATION REPORT. The President, Mr. A. Behan, will present, the. following report to ths annual meeting of the Grcymouth Boxing and! Wrestling Association, this evening:—"

in presenting the report, on last year’s activities, 1. would first like to refer to the serious loss sustained in liie death of two most prominent members of your executive, Messrs. J. Paton and' H. Melville. The loss oi these two valued 1 members' was a blow to the Association, as both were keen workers, and always anxious to encourage boxing, and their ambition was to see this sport, develop on the Coast and brought back to what it was in former days. Their passing has left a. gap that will be h'ardi to fill. On perusal of the balance-sheet, it will be noted that our finances are in a much better position than last year,' our overdraft being reduced by half, which must be considered! very satisfactory. By careful handling of affairs'throughout the coming year, I am sure that the Association will finish up on the right side of the ledger. Members and the supporting public were given a fair share of entertainment throughout the year, as several wrestling contests were held, and: one professional boxing contest, as well as several amateur tournaments.' In this connection, I would like to express the Association’s appreciation to the instructors throughout the district who are, conducting boxing schools and staging tournaments. By their efforts boxing is gradually improving in this district, and they deserve all the assistance that the Association can give them. 1 am pleased to state that Runanga have formed an’ Association, and, that they have held two successful tournaments. Amateur wrestling is also progressing favourably, and we desire to thank all those who cqnie forward to provide preliminaries to professional bouts, and to the instructors who are teaching this sport. The Association was represented at the New Zealand boxing championships at Gisborne by T. Hogarth and C. Marsh, andi although they did not win their respective divisions, they performed (with credit, and' were highly commended’ for their line 1 showings. We hope to be represented' again this year at Invercargill, and as 1 the local championships will be held next month, I fell sure that some fine talent will be available for selection to represent the Coast. Professional wrestling' is again booming, and it is hoped to ,-get the best available here as the season progresses. An invitation has been extended to the Canterbury Boxing Association to send over several boys to compete with ours, and if our efforts are successful a tournament will be held at an early date. I look forward with confidence' to the future, as with the large number of pupils 1 who' are being taught both boxing and wrestling in the district, I am surelhe time is not far distant when! we will have amateurs: in both sports that iwall' hold their with others in any part of New Zealand. In conclusion, I wish, to express my thanks to the doctors for giving their services, the Press, the supporting public, and officials at the various' contests, and I hope the incoming committee will have a succesful year.