Sports Review

The Von Warmed

To His Golf

From a Rabaul Correspondent Famed Australian golfer Norman von Vida, who has been making a New Guinea tour, was pretty hot stuff in Rabaul.

Playing an exhibition nine holes with Rabaul pro., Edgar Oakman, he was enveloped in smoke from a ring of fire on Mt. Mother.

Rabaul has been undergoing a dry period.

Although it was already difficult to see The Von, just for good measure another fire started nearby in dense kunai as he hit off from the fifth, and within seconds the bush was crackling happily. The fire engine promptly got it under control as the experts continued to delight the crowd with their superb play midst smoke and cinders.

Atiu Is More Nuts

Than Anybody

Rivalry between territories of the South Pacific already exists in vari ous sporting spheres, but from Atiu, one of the more progressive of the Cook Islands, has come a sugges tion for a real Islands sport.

In celebration of the opening of the Atiu Co-operative Marketing Society’s sixth copra kiln drier, a coconut husking competition was held. The winner was Ina Anitonia,

who husked 232 nuts in one hour.

Atiu then issued a challenge for anyone, anywhere, to break this record.

A husky husker in Manihiki took up the challenge in May, and with the village pastor as official witness and timekeeper, George Karaponga turned out 260 well-husked f.a.q. nuts in 28 minutes.

Presumably then the supply ran out —or George ran out. His best burst was given as 51 nuts in five minutes.

Announcing this effort, Manihiki hinted darkly that they had women who could husk 260 nuts per hour and are now in training for another attempt on the Atiu record.

FOOTNOTE: Coconut husking is not new to New Guinea. A husking competition was thrown in among

the obstacle races and pillow fights at the New Britain Agricultural show at Kokopo in June, but times are unknown. And there was a new idea, sponsored by the Copra Market ing Board, which erected a notice on the grounds challenging all comers to “Try Your Hand at Copra Grading”.

Goroka Will Have

a Showground

From a Goroka Correspondent Goroka, fast-growing town in the NG Highlands, is to get a show ground. In June, representatives of sport, including football, cricket, the turf, the Pony Club and the Agri cultural Society met to hear opinions on how the 23 acres allotted on the western side of the airstrip will be planned. At the moment it looks as if the area will have a grand stand, permanent show buildings, a four furlong race track, two cricket ovals, a football field, basketball court, polocrosse field and an area for equestrian events. Percentage of gate takings will go into a trust fund for maintenance.

They Missed The

Big Punch

From Norman Baxter, in Suva Suva boxing fans kicked them selves on June 21, the day after Sakiusa Cawaru beat Doudie (no one knows here if he has another name, for it is never listed), of Noumea, to regain the title of heavyweight champion of the South Seas.

Sickened of boxing by a series of indifferent matches, many regular fans stayed away in droves, even though the final gate was round the 1,200 mark.

To their disgust they learned next day that the fight was one of the finest seen in Fiji for many years.

This group of Goroka, New Guinea, people, are looking out over what one day they hope will be one of New Guinea's leading sports and show areas. It's west of the airstrip, adjacent to the agricultural station, and on fairly level ground requiring very little grading. The group comprises R. Winter, D. Williams, R. Bell (obscured) and W. Edgar. Photo: Eric Bolton.

With a back ground of palms in the open air ring at Nukualofa, Fijian boxer Savanaca Komai, on one knee, fights a losing battle with Lave. Referee was U. Thaggart of Fiji.

It was the champagne of boxing with a story-book ending.

Doudie built up a big lead on points and started the 15th and last round looking as though he would run out a clear winner Sakiusa began throwing punches from every angle, but seemed as though he was leaving his run a little late.

It was only 1 min. 15 sec. from the final bell that he threw a terrific right which landed on Doudie’s jaw to send the New Caledonian down for the full count.

Those who were fortunate enough to attend were still talking about the fight a week later.

Within two days it was announced that Sakiusa was to go to Tonga to fight Kitione Lave at Nukualofa on July 18.

Meanwhile, at Nukualofa, on June 17, Lave had proved he’s still capable of dealing with some of the big boys. In a title fight for the South Seas Belt, Lave, at 13 st 10 lb, de feated the 16 st 7 lb Fijian challenger, Savanaca Komai by a tko in the 7th round of a scheduled 15 round contest. The husky 6 ft 4 ins. contractor and plantation owner from Savusavu, with the 84 inch wing span—“the same as Joe Louis” -was unable to carry on when an old back injury appeared. The Belt was donated by the late E. M.

Grant, of Fiji, in 1951. Lave won the Belt from N. Miiiano, of Ba, in 1952 and has retained it ever since.

Is He A New

Rugby Star?

Fiji has a new rugby star on the horizon bidding fair to challenge the reputation of flying left-winger, 0 Levula, hero of Australian and New Zealand crowds. Young Don Mitchell, from Qamea Island, akaudrove, now an apprentice compositor in a Suva newspaper office, is a right winger, and he would thrill the Australian rugby followers as Levula did.

Only 18, he has developed very quickly, and he has more than the average strength for one of his age.

He has given Suva rugby fans many examples of his undoubted ability this season, while opponents who have tried to tackle him have been left lamenting with sore heads.

A recent try he scored after a 60 yards’ run was acclaimed as one of the finest efforts at Albert Park for many years, and runs of 60 yards are not uncommon in Fiji rugby.

But as a part-European he may not be eligible for a touring team for the Fiji Rugby Union policy is to send only purely Fijian sides on a tour. The union could well have

another look at the atter, for on present form Mitchell would be one of the first chosen in a touring side.

Another Fiji tour of Australia has been mooted for 1960 and young Mitchell would be one to set the turn-styles clicking.

They're All For

An Olympics

From Fred Dunn, in Noumea The recent suggestion by the South Pacific Conference in Rabaul that the South Pacific should arrange a kind of "Olympic" games, has caused

a great deal of interest in New Caledonia.

Mr. N. Daly, a director of a big Noumea enterprise and a leader of New Caledonian sporting activities, is especially enthusiastic. Mr. Daly for years has been wanting to organise soccer matches between New Caledonia, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia with a tournament each year in one of the countries, the gates from the larger countries paying expenses of tours in the smaller territories.

Mr. Daly has already passed the idea on, without result so far, but says that the Rabaul idea could easily be grafted on to his scheme.