NATIONALTOURNEY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 234, 15 September 1934, Page 9

NATIONALTOURNEY

Annual Battle for litles ENTRIES BREAK RECORD Fine Tournament Expected THE YEAR’S GREATEST SPORTING EVENT. To-day the Hawke’s Bay Boxing Association is. in the words of the song, “sitting on top of the world.” It is a live organisation actuated by a fine spirit of harmonious co-operation amongst its officials; its tournaments are successful and popular: and it has talent at its command that is equal to any that can be found in the ranks of amateurs anywhere else in New Zealand. Everything is running in its favour, and the peak of achievement has been attained by its being entrusted with the management of the greatest amateur sporting event that is staged annually in the Dominion — the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championships.

Next Wednesday night will witness the opening of the 1934 New Zealand championship tournament, which is being held in Hastings for the second time since the national event was instituted. While the entries are not equal to the record, established last year at Blenheim, they are in keeping with the average for the fixture over recent years. There is one aspect, however, of the nominations that establishes a record in the history of the fixture. No less than 22 out of the 29 affiliated associations that have been active during the season have sent teams to contend for ths eight titles open for competition, and as the contestants hail from all parts of the Dominion, from the far north to the extreme south, it can be fairly claimed that the gathering is the most thoroughly representative one ever held, not only from a purely boxing aspect but from a sporting viewpoint, for it is very doubtful whether any other sporting organisation has heid a fixture whereat the representation is so comprehensive.

Special interest attaches to the tournament this year on account of the fact that shortly nfter its conclusion the new champions will form a team to represent New Zealand at Invercargill against the champions of Australia, and the prospects of competing in this event, whieh now promises to be a biennial exchange of visits between the amateur title-holders of the Dominion and the Commonwealth, will act as an additional Incentive to the contenders to do their utmost to win the honours in their respective divisions.

The selection of Hastings as the venue is a reognition of the fine sporting reputation of the Hawke’s Bay community as a whole for it has been their consistent and generous support that has enabled the H.8.8.A. to achieve the things it has. This confidence in the reputation of the local people as ardent followers of all clean and manly sports will, it is con-

fidently anticipated, bo completely vindicated by capacity houses at the Hastings Municipal Theatre at all sessions of the three-day tournament whieh commences next Wednesday evening.

It may not be out of place to stress here that the credit of the district depends on the success that will be made of the tournament that has been entrusted to the officials of the H.8.8.A, to organise and control. There is every reason for confidence in their capacity to discharge their part of the task in a thorough and satisfactory manner. It should, however, be remembered that the public as a whole, as citizens of the town acting as host for the time being of visitors from all over the Dominion, have a duty devolving upon them to extend every possible courtesy, hospitality and warm friendliness to the strangers- within their gates. While hoping to see their local representatives do well, they will not be slow to applaud skill and courage in others and to show them every consideration both in and out of the ring.. Elaborate arrangements have been made to entertain the visitors and to see to their welfare and recreation, and the spirit actuating every Hawke’s Bayite should be one of comradely welcome.

Not only will Hawke's Bay bo welcoming the boxers and their trainers, but also a large number of delegates representing most of the affiliated associations of the New Zealand Boxing Council, who will be attending the annual conference of the parent body. This conference will be called upon to deal with a variety of matters of general interest to the sport, and amongst other things will decide the venue of the next championships, which are to be held in the South Island; elect the next Dominion president to succeed the present head, Mr D. H. Newbigin, of Hastings; and to appoint the Now Zealand Council for the ensuing year.