First Inter House Boxing Match 1924

On Monday, 7th April, was held the first Inter-House Boxing Competition at Canford. This new branch of sport   was beginning the   Winter   Term, and  the  boxing classes, although    not   composed   of   a great   number, nevertheless   contained enthusiasts, whose keenness accounted for the recent exhibition of their prowess. The bouts took place in an open-air16 foot ring, erected on the grass plot to the south of the senior class-rooms. The performance was well judged by Messrs.  New, Newton and Mapp.    The arrangement  of the   contests   was made by Mr.  Robot who also acted as time-keeper. At the   close of the   competition Mr. New made a very complimentary speech upon the afternoon’s display, after which the   presentation   of   the   Boxing  Cup, very  kindly given   by   Mr.  Mapp, was made   by   him.    The    victors     were Franklin’s, with   School House   second and Wimborne third. In  the first fight Barnard (Wimborne)fought  Green  (School)  in  the   semi-final for    the    7J-8J   stone   division.     After three rounds of 90 sees, and intervals of 60  sees.  Barnard   was proclaimed   the winner on points.     In  the  next  bout, perhaps the most interesting, Naismith (Franklin’s) fought Preston (School) for the heavy-weight division open to boxers over 9j stone.  Wimborne did not enter for this.    In the first round both went at it hammer and tongs, and when time was   called   it   was noted  that Preston was  the  more   tired.     In   the   second round Naismith, who was fighting well, obtained the upper hand, and the referee gave   the   verdict   to   him.    Following this was the 8J-9J stone contest between Mayer’s (Wimborne) and     Langford (Franklin's).    Both were evenly matched and a fourth   round had to be fought before   the   judges   decided   on   Mayer’s as the winner. The next fight, for boxers under  1\  stone, was   fought   between Randall-Jones (Franklin’s) and Thwaites (Wimborne), the decision being given to the former, who fought really well. Puli blank   and Mapp, both of School House, drew   byes.     In   the finals the former beat Mayer’s (Wimborne) and the latter  was  beaten  by  Randall-Jones (Franklin's).     Thus, Franklin’s won the day with School House as runners-up. After the Inter-House   Competition, a knock-out   contest    for   the    Individual Championship took place for any weight over   nine   stone.     In  the  semi-finals Naismith   beat    Crawford, and    Ewart beat Cotton (ma.).Nd it must be said that right through Naismith showed a superior knowledge of the sport but that Ewart put up a plucky    fight.   Let     us     congratulate Naismith   as the  first   champion boxer at Canford. The thanks of the Boxing Club should be offered to Serge.  Birch for his keen-ness and assistance to the Boxing Club in its pugilistic infancy.