WRESTLER’S HECTIC LIFE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1933, Page 6

WRESTLER’S HECTIC LIFE

TEN BOUTS IN TWELVE DAYS WALKER’S TOUR ENDS AT HAWERA. DOMINION'S BIGGEST DRAW CARD. Ten successful bouts before packed houses in the last 12 days is the record established by George Walker, New Zealand’s greatest wrestling draw-card. Bookings at Hawera last night were the heaviest the town has known for a sporting contest, the Donovan-Grime boxing bout being the nearest approach. Visitors came from Palmerston North, Wanganui, and all over Taranaki from New Plymouth to Opunake and the backblocks of Stratford. After a sensational win over Count Varga by a surprise fall in the first round, Walker left Auckland by aeroplane on August 7, and the following night wrestled at Christchurch. Since then he has wrestled at Ashburton, Timaru, Dunedin, Wellington, Palmerston North, Gisborne and Napier, completing his grand tour with a match against Clark at Hawera last night.

His popularity in the world of sport has been unrivalled in this country, at any rate in recent years, and is approached only by that of Tommy Donovan and Pete Sarron, the dynamic American boxer. His gross earnings for the season have been estimated at £lO,OOO. During the last 12 'months Walker has spent 85 hours in the air on cross-coun-try flights, Mr. Ron. Kirkup, Auckland, piloting him most of the time. Proof of his popularity as a wrestler is evident in the terms of the most attractive offer which has been made to him to go to America. His intention is to leave for that country early in the new year and to remain there for about four months. On his return to New Zealand he will probably bring back with him a ’plane ©f his own, and he intends to study for a pilot’s license.