IMPROVEMENT IN FINANCES

Southland Times, Issue 23142, 8 March 1937, Page 9

IMPROVEMENT IN FINANCES

SOUTHLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION THE ANNUAL REPORT , An improvement in its financial position is disclosed by the Southland Boxing Association in its annual report, which will be presented at the annual meeting this evening. The report says:— , , It is with regret that we record the death of one of our members, Mr Peter Donnelly, who was a tower of strength to the association. The usual Southland championships and open and novice tournaments were held during the year and in addition eleven professional bouts were staged. The annual Southland championships were held at Winton on August 27. The standard was quite good and every championship was hotly contested. The winners of the various classes were as follows:— Flyweight, M. Parr; featherweight, J. Lambert; lightweight, R. Baker; welterweight, J. Reidy; middleweight, G. McKay; light-heavyweight, R. Dick. During the year four tournaments were held, at Invercargill, Wyndham, Tuatapere and Winton, and some promising novices were discovered. The. total number of bouts conducted during the year, including bouts as preliminaries to the professional contests, was 108. The association sent to Wellington a team under the management of Mr A. Fyffe. The selected boys all gave of their best and upheld the name of the association both in the contests and during the tour. Mr W. Fewster, as trainer, carried out his duties in an able manner. To the selected members, the trainer, and to Mr Fyffe we extend our congratulations on their worthy efforts, and to the secretary for his representations at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Boxing Council. The members of the team were: Featherweight, J. Lambert; lightweight, R. Baker; welterweight, J. Reidy; middleweight, G. McKay.. Baker and Reidy were runners-up in their respective classes. During the season some excellent contests were staged. The association, pursuing its policy of progress, imported from Australia three boxers—Roy de Gans, Claude Nichol and Jack Rainsford. De Gans, who proved one of the most popular boxers to appear in the city, was the first coloured boxer to fight in New Zealand for some years, our association being instrumental in having the ban on coloured boxers lifted. De Gans made good and then Nichol came over. This man, although not a drawcard like de Gans, put up some good performances, winning all his fights in Invercargill. Rainsford was not a success, but provided our “fans” with some exciting moments. One local boxer, Jack Reidy, turned professional and was matched on two occasions. Fortunately this year the tournaments have shown a small profit and with a strict check on all expenditure, the financial position of the. association has improved. Starting with a credit of £9O 10/3, the season showed a credit of £2ll 11/- at the end. The assets of the association are £l2O. The thanks of file committee are tendered to all willing helpers who .so loyally assisted it by free services in control of the doors and ticket offices and to the police for their courtesy and assistance. The committee thanks all trainers and competitors who ably assisted in providing the excellent contests throughout the season and trusts that ’a continuance of such support will be extended to the incoming executive.