WRESTLING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18203, 26 September 1933, Page 2

WRESTLING

P.B. CHAMPIONSHIPS PRELIMINARY CONTESTS Entries for the amateur wrestling championships of the Poverty Bay district, to be contested this evening and on Friday, are hardly as numerous as might have been expected, in view of tlie numbers of amateurs who have taken part in the various tournaments Held during the season. The patrons will regret the absence from the tournament of one or two of those who helped to make things interesting last year, during the championship competitions, but there are newcomers who will help to promote interest, and the standard of amateur talent generally is quite as high as that presented last year, despite the fact that there are no outstanding figures. The heavyweight class is represented bv three well-known amateurs in C. Gibson, Mahunga Brown, and T. Munro, the last-mentioned being the. probable finalists in their division, if Brown takes his place in the ring. The big Maori is drawn against Gibson in the first bout, and though Gibson is a speedy and clever wrestler, it seems unlikely that he will get the better of Brown. T. Munro should furnish much more formidable competition for the Maori heavyweight, and their meeting on Friday evening should be productive of a hard and willing bout. In the light-heavyweight class, Gibson is drawn against H. Pritchard for tjie first bout, and W. Oooper will appear against K. Pere. The last-mentioned should have a win in his bout, and Gibson’s speed and experience should give him a win over Pritchard. It seems likely that Pere and Gibson will contest the final of their class.

In the middle-weight section, which is not to bo disposed of until Friday owing to there being only two. entries, Gibson and Pere will meet again, with the issue very open. Welterweights are represented in the championship programme by three entries, and to-night H. Duckworth and C. Baigent will try conclusions in the elimination bout. Duckworth has had a good run of success this season, and will be hard to beat to-night. Buscke will give either Duckworth or Baigent a hard tussle in the final.

In the lightweight division there are three matches in the preliminary round, and a semi-final match also will be staged this evening. All six entrants have shown good form this season, and it is difficult indeed to forecast the result. Perrott and K. Harris both seem, to have fair chances of reaching the semi-final, while Hunt probably will be one of the finalists.

There are only two featherweight entries, and R. Low will meet A. Campbell to-niglit to decide the class. Low has been seen in some good displays recently, and should emerge as champion of his class.