TARANAKI BOXERS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1935, Page 9

TARANAKI BOXERS

ENTERTAINMENT OF THE TEAM.

CONTESTANTS IN CHAMPIONSHIPS. Members of the Taranaki Boxing Association’s team who recently competed in the New Zealand championships at Dunedin were tendered a complimentary evening at the Rewa tearooms, Hawera, by the provincial council on Tuesday.: Mr. J. Garcia, president of the Taranaki association, presided, and there was an excellent attendance of enthusiasts from all parts of the province. Members of the team present were C. Gordon, feather-weight champion, B. Maddern, flyweight runner-up, and T. Loveridge. The other member, R. Holden, was unable to attend.

The Mayor of Hawera, Mr. J. E. Campbell, welcomed the visitors and said the team, winners and losers alike, had worthily upheld the honour of Taranaki. He paid a tribute to the work of the Taranaki association and stressed the value of social gatherings. The Hawera Boxing Association, he said, was doing excellent work in fostering the sport. Mr. Campbell presented letters of appreciation from the Taranaki association to the team. .'S

In welcoming the team home Mr. Garcia said that there was no question that every time a Taranaki team went away it upheld the province’s reputation ■ for good sportsmanship and the boxers invariably created a good impression. On this occasion the team had been particularly fortunate in having a manager of the calibre of Mi*. J. Gordon. He had been responsible for a large measure of the team’s success. Boxing in Taranaki was considerably handicapped by comparison with the cities in the lack of adequate gymnasium and tuition facilities, and the enthusiasm of the few trainers operating in the territory was greatly to be commended. Dealing with the personnel of the team the president particularly congratulated C. Gordon on annexing the featherweight title. Since 1911, when Alan Maxwell brought the lightweight title to Taranaki, only nine championships had come to the province, and of these C. Gordon had secured three, winning the flyweight at New Plymouth in 1932, the championship and the Jamieson Belt at Hastings and the Australasian title at Dunedin in 1934 in addition

to his latest success. Mr. Garcia recalled that R. Loveridge, W. Roebuck, T. Donovan, D. Roebuck and Roguski had won New Zealand championships for Taranaki. Taranaki could look forward with confidence to C. Gordon’s bringing home an Olympic championship. Maddern put up a wonderful exhibition at Dunedin and captivated the crowd, Mr. Garcia said. Loveridge was particularly unfortunate. His bout was the best of the evening and he put up a great performance against the best man in his class.

On behalf of the. Taranaki association Mr. Stevenson added his congratulations. He referred to the value of the sport in the training of character as well as in maintaining physical fitness. Mr. F. Guy, president of the Hawera association, paid a tribute to Mr. Gordon’s work as manager and second. Trainers and schools in the district, he said, had materially assisted in keeping the sport alive. Mr. F. Ramsbottom, president of the Patea association, said that the most improved boxers he had seen in recent tournaments were Loveridge and P. Huzziff. Patea, like Hawera, had had financial difficulties, but the enthusiasm of local supporters who recognised the worth of the existing talent had put the y association on its feet again. The need for boxers to keep fit was stressed by Mr. W. Thompson, who added his congratulations on behalf of the Tariki club.

Maddern was the “surprise packet” of the trip, said Mr. Gordon, reporting on the team. Despite a great disadvantage in height and weight he had put up a great fight. The crowd had considered Loveridge’s fight the best of the evening and Mr. Gordon agreed with him. Holden had been giving away too much weight and though he was fairly beaten he was unfortunate to have the bout stopped. The conduct of the team on tour had been excellent.

Mr. E. T. Simon, speaking for the Hawera association, said that though Taranaki might lack certain training facilities the trainers operating were excellent and had greatly encouraged the sport. Members of the team briefly responded to the congratulations and' Mr. B. Johnson replied on behalf of the trainers. Songs were sung by Mr. C. J. Roberts. The Press was thanked for its services to the sport.