STILL CHAMPION

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 19, 6 September 1940, Page 6

STILL CHAMPION

Blomfield Retains Wrestling Title — BEST BOUT OF SEASON Draw, One Fall Each, Against Katan By holding the challenger. John Katan, to a draw, one fall each, Lofty Blomfield retained the British Empire wrestling championship in a remarkably fast and vigorous bout at the Wellington Town Hall on Sept. 2. Katan took first fall with a jack-knife in the fourth round; Blomfield drew even with an octopus-clamp in the sixth. The contest was characterized by more and harder elbow-jolts and a faster_ tempo than any recently; it was easily the most exciting, of the season in Wellington. The Town Hall was crowded. Every seat was taken, and scores watched the bout standing. Scenes of hysterical enthusiasm marked the falls, and the ultimate decision. Earl McCready, former Empire champion, who watched the bout, repeated his challenge to the winner. Blomfield weighed 16st. 41b., Katan 16st. 101 b. The referee was Mr. A. Jenkins. Katan, who entered the ring first,' was greeted with mingled cheers and boos, Bloomfield with a roar of unmixed approbation. Throughout the bout, it was evident that the sympathies of the spectators were largely with the New Zealander. The crowd was in high spirits and unusually vociferous.. Vigorous from the first, exchanges, the j wrestling became rough in the second round, when jolting broke out between the contestants, and Blomfield tormented Katan by tugging his top-knot, bumping him on the nose, and jumping on him after rolling him into the ropes. He backed Katan into the ropes and lodged a swing in the small of his ' back with the side of his hand. He lodged a jolt in . Katan’s eye that echoed above . the bellowing of the barrackers, and within a minute brought up Katan’s eye the size of a walnut and the colour of a rainbow. Plenty of Jolts. Katan was out for revenge, and there followed the longest stand-up battle of jolts and forearm blows —yes, and occasional punchesseen in the Town Hail this season. Blomfield gave as good as he got.' He made Katan release an armbar by twisting his ear. Katan lodged a hard rap, and picked up Blomfield’s foot; he soon had Blomfield writhing in a painful step-over toehold. The referee approached to see if Blomfield pro-posed-to submit; Blomfield’s arm shot j out, and clutched the referee by the trousers. There was a brief hurly-burly which ended with Katan expostulating. Blomfield at large again, and the referee on his head in the ropes. Blomfield had the best of another exchange of jolts ; he dazed Katan, staggered him, and was pitching him about with headlock throws when the bell cut him ■ short. Katan Takes a Fall. More and more jolts, till Katan lodged I a couple of well-timed ones, each time j knocking Blomfield clean off -his feet. Before Blomfield could rise the second time, Katan grabbed him by the foot, and stepped into a devastating toehold. From this he developed a jack-knife, forcing Blomfield’s shoulders to £jie mat. After the fall, Blomfield lay prone for some seconds before being assisted to his corner. He came back full of energy, however, and soon had Katan growling in a crucifix. He flung Katan across and across the ring, using the ropes as a springboard. Katan thrust his head and shoulders through the ropes, but it required considerable persuasion from the referee to persuade Blomfield to respect the sanctuary.

Blomfield Draws Even.

Katan had the better of a further series of elbow jolts, early in the sixth round. Presently he knocked Blomfield down —and as he fell Blomfield tripped him. He sprang into an octopus clamp, dragged Katan out into the open, and sat for a second getting his breath and waiting the psychological moment to take advantage of his coup. The crowd surged to its feet, screaming with excitement, when Blomfield rolled Katan over, with a swift movement and stood up, throwing his weight into the

leerag e of 1 the painful hold. As Blomfield hauled him back to the middle of ion ril Th K '? t n n beat the mat in submission. The fall was acclaimed by an extraordinary ovation. y Wa ? lenty of action, but no all in the closing rounds being a champfaHshiPb b f° Ut -’ R had t 0 be decided on even’ At ?? ai J y ca t e ’ honours were Blonifield’c Ihe close . the referee raised outb?n4JV hnd amidst another noisy itburst fiom his many supporters.