BOXING TOURNAMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 235, 17 September 1934, Page 2

BOXING TOURNAMENT

Championships in Hastings BIG GATHERING THIS WEEK Amateurs, numbering the best pan of a century, the pride and elect of 22 separate boxing associations, will be gravitating to Hastings from all part.; of the Dominion to-day and to-morrow in anticipation of the greatest annua! amateur sporting event of the year—the New Zealand amateur boxing cham pionships tournament, which commences at the Hastings AlunicipaTheatre on Wednesday evening. This big entry and complete repre ■mutation is indicative of the boom prevailing in amateur boxing in contrast with the slump ou the professional side. It also indicates that Hastings, as a part of Hawke’s Bay, is a strategic situation for such a -national event, for teams have been attracted from the for north to the far south. North and South Island associations vie with one another in the wonderful quest for championships. No doubt the fact that representation in the team to meet the Australians in the Australasian championships next month will depend on the results of this week’s boxing, has had much to do with the satisfactory entries that have been received for this year’s New Zealand tournament. The various associations have shown commendable keenness by sending team* that are well fitted for such an important fixture, and while in -no case will there be a team competing in all eight divisions, there are quite a number who tvill be seeking five or more titles. In every division there is plenty of competition, for the smallest field is six and the biggest 15. A pleasing feature is that the heavier classes have attracted excellent fields. OUTLINE OF ITINERARY. Though various forms of amusement and entertainment have been arranged for the visitors they will find that a good portion of their time will be spent attending to matters directly concerned with the tournament. A brief outline of the itinerary arranged for the visitors is as follows:— To-morrow.—Representatives (boxers and delegates) arrive. Evening: Pio ture entertainment. Wednesday. — Morning: Civic reception by His Worship the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, in the Assembly Hall at 9.30 o'clock. Medical examination of boxers at the Municipal Theatre at 10 o’clock. Afternoon: Weighing-in of boxers at the theatre at 3 o’clock. Evening: Preliminary contests commencing at tho Municipal Theatre at 7 o’clock. Thursday.—Morning: Annual conference of the New Zealand Boxing Association at the Council Chambers at 9.30 o’clock. Competitors for afternoon boxing weigh-in at theatre at 10 o'clock. Afternoon: Visit to Cornwall Park for a gala afternoon, the programme of which includes a ribbon parade, a hockey match and national dancing, following a march by the Highland Pipe Band from the Assembly Hall to the Park. Competitors for evening’s boxing weigh-in at 3 o’clock. Afternoon contests (if any) at 3.30 o’clock. Evening: Second evening’s contests commencing at 7 o’clock. Friday.—Morning: Competitors for afternoon contests weigh-in at 10 o’clock. Afternoon: Visit to Napier where tho visitors will be the guests of the Napier Jloxing Association to afternoon-tea at Westshore. Contests (if any) will take place at 3.30 o’clock. Undefeated competitors weigh-in at 4 o’clock. Evening; Final contests commencing at 7.30 o’clock. Presentation of trophies immediately after contests. Re-union and supper in the Assembly Hall commencing at 10.30 o’clock.

Saturday.—Visitors return to their homos.

The public are requested to note that they are cordially invited to witness the weighing-ij of tho contestants, and it is the earnest hope that there will be a big gathering of townspeople and residents of the surrounding districts at the two main public functions—the civic welcome on Wednesday morning and the gala afternoon at Cornwall Park on Thursday.

This latter function is free to one and all, and is arranged with the solo purpose of affording the people of Hawke’s Bay, and of Hastings in particular, the opportunity of becoming more closely acquainted with the visitors.