Great Improvement In Boxing

Boxing has been revitalised in Nelson in the last three years, and no small credit for this is due to the efforts of Nelson trainer Les Rackley and a new administration. Les, operating his gymnasium in the Sports Hall, is training about 20 boxers ranging from boys of about 5st to the present No. 1 middleweight in New Zealand, Graeme McNamara. His son Jeff is the present New Zealand and Wellington titleholder in the 6st 6 lbs class Success has only come to this Nelson team through hard work and dedication but it has attained real success Recently a nine-man team competed at Otematata in what is recognised as a South Island tournament (there were 140 entries). Eight were in the finals and they won five titles and three were runners-up. Les himself won the trophy for the most successful trainer. Our pix were taken in the gym during training.

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The view a floored opponent would have of Jeff Rackley as he hammers a bag

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Ken Atkinson concentrated on shadow boxing before a mirror.

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Gary Bright lets loose a flurry of blows at a heavy bag while Les Rackley holds it for him.

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Graeme McNamara gives attention to the co-ordination of eye and reflexes by using a punch ball.