H.B. BOXING

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 65, 10 March 1933, Page 2

H.B. BOXING

/ '~9CIATTON ACTIVITIES THE ANNUAL REPORT The annual meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Boxing Association will be held on Thursday, March 16, when the following report will be presented: — In presenting to you the annual report covering last year’s activities, we are very pleased to be able to state that the season was an extremely successful one. We are glad to be able to say that financially th year’s operations resulted in a credit balance being shown at the end of the Our activities were on a similar basis to that of last year, and no less than seven contests were staged, four of these being professional. They were: Thompson-Cossil, ThompsonFirth, Smith-Knuckey, Oxley-Leckie, novice tournament, amateur tournament and Hawke’s Bay championships. Hawke’s Bay was again represented at the New Zealand amateur championships, held at New Plymouth and although no boxer attained any individual honour, the team as a -whole put up a very creditable performance, which reflected credit to the association and the standard of boxing in Hawke’s Bay.

The committee have asked me to mention that they consider the association was honoured by having its chairman appointed a judge at the New Zealand championships. All contests are now being held in the Drill Hall, the association having purchased additional seating accommodation for over 1,000 people. Mr. P. C. Petersen donated some of the timber for these seats, and Mr. H. G. ApperJey gave his services in having them erected. To both these gentlemen we tender our sincere thanks, as it has undoubtedly saved the association.a good deal of money.

The association has lost the services of one of its keenest members in Sergeant-Major O'Leary, who has been transferred to Wellington. He was at all times a most valuable asset to the association, and his position will be hard to fill. On the eve of his departure Sergeant-Major O'Leary -was met by the members of the association and presented with a parting gift as a slight, token of the esteem in which he was held. Thanks are due to the executive officers and committee for the manner in which they have worked together during the season to make it the success that it was, and in this respect we should like to express our thanks to the press for their very hearty cooperation accorded us during the year. To the hon medical officers we should like to offer our thanks and appreciation. To the police we extend our thanks, and it would be impossible to express to the full, our thanks and appreciation of the loyal and earnest assistance of Mr. J. D. Donovan. We feel that this report would not be complete without placing on record the excellent services rendered to the association by our honorary secretary, Mr. J. Stickland. The brunt of the work of organising the contests during the year fell on him, and it was mainly due to his great efforts that we were able to have such an active season.

Special thanks are also due to Messrs. Wall and Gallien for erecting the lights and taking care of same; to Messrs. Rainbow, Hobbs and Nesbit, for the use of a meeting room, and also to the Defence Department. In conclusion, we should like to thank all those who have assisted the association during the year, and anyone who has in any way helped to promote the sport in the district. Following upon the recommendations made at the last annual meeting, an effort was made to introduce boxing into the schools. This was a highly successful innovation and all

the school tournaments were largely attended and created intense interest. The profits derived from these fixtures were handed over to the individual schools concerned. The school tournaments we consider should be again undertaken, as it is only by fostering the schoolboy talent that we can hope to improve the general standard in the province. In this connection our thanks are due tu Artie Hay and Billy Sullivan for coaching the boys; to the secretary, who organised the tournaments, to the headmasters for their support, to Mr. B. M. Kessel! for donating a cup, and to all those who have given assistance. We can confidently say that boxing in Hastings is once 1 more gaining its old position among the sporting fraternity, and is now more popular than it has been for many years, and we hope that the association will be able to keep up the good standard set during the past season by engaging boxers who can be assured of giving good exhibitions. Special mentioned was made by His Worship the Mayor (Mr G. F. Roach) in his report on the Hastings carnival of the great success that attended the carnival boxing tournament, and it is intended to make this an annual feature. I would suggest that the incoming committee consider the appointment of a number of referees and judges to officiate throughout the season. Our very special and hearty thanks are due to our president, Mr. H. M. Campbell, M.P., who has always been such an active member and one who has stood staunchly by the association during the hard struggle it had once more to bring boxing in Hastings up to its present-day standard.