WRESTLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 15

WRESTLING.

SEASON COMMENCES EARLY.

THE WALKER-EBERT MATCH

The earlv opening of the wrestling season in Auckland portends well for a very active period this year. The public has grown to like this thrilling sport and the New Zealand Wrestling Association lias given it every opportunity to see good performers and hopes, this year that even better men will be seen in action and that they will wrestle even more frequently than last year. George Walker, who has become quite a favourite with mat followers, will meet Fred Ebert, of Austria, at the Town Hall next Monday night. Last season Walker twice defeated Tom Alley; and drew with the world's light-heavy-weight champion, Clarence Eklund, but was defeated by Ihe redoubtable John Pesek. His pantherlike leaps and tackles arc always most spectacular and his aggression keeps his opponent very alert throughout a match, lie has been training at lakapuna beach and besides running and exercises he has been doing a good deal of rowing and looks the picture of fitness. His opponent for Monday, Ebert, is a 29-year-old Austrian of 13st 101b., who has wrestled from an early age. It was not until 1921 that lie turned professional, two years after he had won his country's light-heavy-weight amatefir title. He has wrestled in all parts of Europe and has met such men as Shikat, present heavyweight champion, and Steinke. Against the latter at Leipzig Ebert drew, but was beaten at Berlin bv Shikat by one fall after on hour's wrestling. America attracted Ebert in 1923 and in his three years' sojourn there he was beaten by Joe Steelier, drew with S. Zbyszko and Landas, all men well up in the" sport, lie engaged in many other mutches, but against men not so well known in these parts. In 1926 he returned to Europe and while in England beat Sam Clapham at Liverpool. His travels next took him lo South America and thence to Japan where he beat Iligami. Ebert then wrestled in India and finally about the middle of last year landed in Australia where he beat Burmister, Higgins (twice), Lurich, Marshall, Kendall, and the renowned Count Zarynoff. Altogether the Austrian claims to have had 500 matches.

Ho is reported very fit and in good shape. Walker will have to be alert to the possibility of the terrible back• loop slam of which the Austrian is an exponent. Walker suffered this deadly hold against Pesek and so will not be anxious to get caught in it again.

KOYAL FAMILY SPORT.

PRINCE DEVELOPING GOLF.

Hie Prince of Wales is developing his golf considerably, but it is doubtful if he will ever be so good at the royal and ancient game as he is at squash rackets, in which ho attains to championship class, says an English paper. His brother the Duke of York prefers lawn tennis, and a few years ago was "centre-courted" at Wimbledon with Louis Greig as his partner. The King is, of course, one of the finest shots in the country, and it is said of Prince Henry that he sits a horse magnificently.