IF THE CAP FITS… - New Zealand Police Association

POLICE COUNCIL OF SPORTTo contact the Police Council of Sport, call Alison Murray at the RNZPC. Ph: (04) 238-3139Boxing:Guns ‘n’ Hoses event a tremendous successIn October 2005 Masterton Youth Aid officer, Dave Drummond, put 16 of hispeers up against each other in the boxing ring in front of about 150 friendsand family of Police.Recently, the event was revived and this time 1800 people turned up to watchthe eight bouts at Masterton’s Genesis Energy Recreation Centre Stadium.The boxing tournament pitted police officers against firefighters in the eventwhich was billed as the “Guns ‘n’ Hoses” tournament. It raised almost$20,000 for charity.Charities benefitWhile the Police came off second best, losing five bouts to three, the twonominated charities - Police Blue Light and the Oncology Department atWairarapa Hospital - were the real winners.Event organiser Dave “Don King” Drummond, a former NZ Golden GlovesChampion himself, said he was overwhelmed by the positive response fromthe community.“Local businesses and many people from all different areas of the communitywere so quick to get on board, to offer their support and make it work. Wereally wanted the emphasis to be not just on raising money for charity, butmaking it a community event.”Corporate supportTicket prices were kept low for this reason. There were 15 corporate tables,which were snapped up soon after they went on sale, and Dave said he couldhave sold double the number of tables for double the price.As for the boxing itself, those who put themselves forward trained for threemonths leading up to the bout.The oldest was Masterton firefighter Mike Cornford, at 52 years of age. Hewon his bout and, according to Dave, loved every minute of it.“What makes for a great evening is evenly matched fights, and that’s whatwe had”, Drummond said.Positive community feedbackA local secondary school band played after the boxing and there were foodand bar facilities available throughout the night. Letters of thanks came infrom many people, and Police have had plenty of positive feedback about theevent during the course of their duties.Wairarapa Area Commander, Inspector JJ Johnson, was one of the judges atthe event. Mr Johnson said he couldn’t have asked for more from his staff,not just in the ring but in organising the event for the community.“To see the cross section of people there, all enjoying the entertainmenttogether, was tremendous and great for the strengthening the relationshipbetween Police and the public.”Next event in two yearsDave says the next Guns ‘n’ Hoses event is bound to be bigger and betteragain, and will be held early in 2009.For the record, the brave few who put their bodies on the line on this occasion,were Andy “Silkman” Caudwell (Masterton GBD), Aidan “The Big Easy” Ellims(Martinborough), David “Massacre” Mason (Masterton CIB), Mike “Wildman”Wakefield (Masterton GDB), Luke “The Rat” Rattenbury (Masterton GDB),Scott “The Fish Whisperer” Cooper (Lower Hutt CIB), Shane “Slugger” Nolan(Masterton Traffic Section), Rob “Hitman” Hutton (Masterton Traffic Section).• LEFT: Martinborough Constable Aidan “The Big Easy” Ellims (inblue) trades blows with firefighter Graham Hill.• ABOVE: Masterton GDB Constable Andy “Silkman” Caudwellslips a punch from Swanny Nicho. Keeping a close eye on theaction is referee Tom Dunn, a former NZ middleweight championand a son of the late Dick Dunn, widely regarded in boxing circlesas New Zealand’s best boxing coach.- Photos courtesy of Piers Fuller/The Wairarapa News.Visit www.policeassn.org.nz for updated contact details for the Police Council of Sport management committee,District Sports Officers and the latest schedule of events.160 August 2007