WRESTLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 201, 28 August 1935, Page 4

WRESTLING

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What should be a fast and colourful contest should eventuate at the Opera House this evening, when the popular and genial George Hopkins will try conclusions with a new-comer to Wanganui in the person of Ole Andresen, the big Nebraskan wrestler. Andresen, with a very attractive record of victories in the United States over many of the world’s greatest, has so far in this country proved himself a great all-round wrestler, with brilliant speed, resource, cleverness and endurance. He is the only man in the Dominion to-day who has forced the mighty Ear] McCready to a draw, and is expected to go well to-night. Hopkins needs no introducing to local patrons for he is very favourably known here, but he will need to avail himself of his exceptional strength to take the thick end of the purse. These two men are very clever and patrons will witness a trial of tactics and strength. Prior to the big professional contest at the Opera House this evening there will be several special amateur bouts. A team of Wellington’s best amaturs are to try conclusions with a Wanganui team, and there will be some exceptional talent engaged. Wellington crack light-heavy. 11. Godfrey, with be matched with Wanganui star amateur, Harry Bartlett. Godfrey, who is a policeman, won the New Zealand title in 1933-34, is in splendid condition at present and Bartlett will have to be at his best to hold his opponent. N. Nolan (who has been selected to represent New Zealand at the forthcoming Olympic Games) will be seen in a match with E. Rholoff. The other bouts arc: T. Spalding (Wellington) v. C. Matson, and R. Minnis (Wellington) v. L. Yarn. These contests should be the best ever staged bv amateurs in Wanganui. It is many years since the standard of wrestling in New Zealand has been so high as it is at present. There are at least eight wrestlers in the country to-day who are among the best the world has to offer. • • « • Of the men who are active, the young Canadian, Earl McCready, must rank as top on merit of contests won—but his position is by no means unassailable. And. foremost in the list of those assailants must be placed the Nebraskan matman, Ole Andresen. Andresen took McCready to a no-fall draw at Christchurch a fortnight ago. and it was the opinion of the capacity house which witnessed fhfe contest, he should have received the referee’s decision. • • • • Jaget Singh should prove a big draw throughout the country. Quite a number of Wanganuhites saw him in action last week against. McCready, and were highly enthusiastic over the exhibition provided. Jaget’s Indian deathlock has caught the public imaginatoin and fans will flock to see him apply it. • « „ • The present season seems to have been very productive of new holds which undoubtedly lend colour to the mat gamp. If they have any punishing powers new holds may usually be relied on for falls since opponents have not yet had an opportunity of finding counters for them. Variety is the spice of life—and that is true in wrestling as in everything else. Patrons at this evening’s contest will be on the look out for Andresen’s speciality—applying the full Nelson with his legs. George Hopkins too, has a speciality hold but has never been able to fully develop it in this country. Maybe we will see it to-night! Earl McCready and George Hopkins are both emphatic, that there is no counter to Jaget Singh’s “Indian deathlock,” but there is one wrestler, Ole Andresen, who say he can get out of the hold. Perhaps the solution lies in the fact that Ole is double-jointed. With regard to the decision of the Full Court in respect of a claim brought against the Commissioner of Police by the National Sporting Chib, Incorporated, on June 27, George Walker stated it had in no way influenced him to withdraw his support from the Pioneer Athletic Club. He said he had no immediate intention of making application to the New Zealand Wrestling Union for a licence 1o wrestle under the auspices of associations affiliated to this body. He,considered it premature to discuss this possibility at the present time. * * • • Two 220-pound professional wrestlers in Tony (Jatalino and Angelo Cestoldi will leave San Francisco for New Zealand by ihe Makura to-day (August 28). Both men have very good records, it is stated, and should be instrumental in bolstering up and maintaining interest in the present season. * • • ♦ We won’t take offence if you discredit this, but it’s true: George Hopkins, the giant Englishman, was a cripple in irons until he was six years of age. He suffered badly with rickets, and though a gradual improvement was noted in his health from then on, he was still hobbling on a stick at the age of twelve. At school George wanted to be like other boys and take part in athletic exercises and after reading a Jot of Greek philosophy he was given tho inspiration to get into work and build a foundation to what, by sheer hard work, was later moulded into a great, powerful body. And George Hop kins is but one of the several athletes who have gone on to athletic success aft.er being cripples :.s Children. Hardy Krusknmp is proving popular in Australia. Audiences on the other side of the Tasman rate him more highly than did New Zealand crowds, and he is filling the halls wherever he has appeared. He and Johnny Woods, a spectacular college grappler, who drew with Tom Lurieh in his first Aus tralian bout, have introduced tho spectacular element into the Australian mat game. Both have made a specialty of Ihe, drop-kick and flying tackle and the fans have loved it. Gross carelessness almost cost the Canadian matman, Earl McCready, his contest with Jaget, fclingh in Welling ton last week. When, in the last round of their match, McCready, after keeping out of trouble for a whole seven rounds, foolishly allowed Jaget Singh to gain his Indian deathlock from a toe-bar, it seemed that the contest would end in a draw. But McCready, whose legs are exceptionally long and strong, held out until the gong, to win the contest by virtue of a fall gained in the sixth round with his new-fangled octopus deathlock. Jaget Singh, who should have put much more into his favourite hold than he did, was a very disappointed man when the final gong I sounded.