Jump At Stardom

New Guinea Takes A Running Jump At Stardom

A “Twilight Trials” athletics meeting with 70 competitors ched by a crowd of 4,000, at Rabaul’s Queen Elizabeth Park February was symptomatic of a disease which has reached lemic proportions throughout Papua-New Guinea—“Com iwealth Games Madness”.

)UGHOUT the big Territory, 3rts fields are filled afternoons weekend with running, jump >pping athletes and would-be driving themselves unmerci attempts to win places at the British Commonwealth to be held in Perth, West ia, in November, year for the first time Papua-

New Guinea can field its own squad under its own banner. There may be a 13-man team, and on the athletics side of it there is every chance that natives will be strongly represented, for the European and Asian popula tion is too small to turn up a star.

But there appear to be stars in the making among the natives, and par ticularly those in the islands areas of New Guinea.

Coaches have been appointed, finance committees are working over time, never has sport in the Terri tory created such excitement. The Territory’s own Games Association is watching potential Games repre sentatives, encouraging them, ensur ing they get tough competition in workouts.

Sent to Melbourne In January, the Papua and New Guinea Athletics Association (formed last year when P-NG delegates re turned from the Noumea conference which launched the South Pacific Games which is to be held in Suva in 1963) sent to Melbourne two native athletes they decided would benefit from special training—Edward Laboran, a teacher from Kavieng, and Pte. Eope-Mora, of Kerema, a PIR soldier.

Laboran, untrained, holds the Territory high jump record at 6 ft. 31 in. and Eope-Mora holds the javelin throw record at 178 ft. H in., but he barely walks when throwing.

“We can’t expect too much too soon,” said Association president F.

P. Kaad. “Apart from expert coach ing these men need competition to extend them. They are going to Melbourne to gain experience.”

Mr. Kaad, who is Port Moresby District Commissioner, knows that even if these two men and others don’t do well at Perth there is still

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C HOPES. Working hard for Commonwealth Games selection are the men on the right s Ordinary Seaman Labert, a Tolai of the Australian Navy at Manus, receiving the trophy 220 yd. win from his Naval Officer Lt.-Cmder. Brooker, at the Rabaul "Twilight Trials". hows Ordinary Seaman Peltam, so far ahead in the 880 yds. that the field isn't in the His time was 2 m. 14.5 sec. Lower, Australian Olympic runner Kevan Gosper from ground watches the start of the 220 yds. In front of him on the blocks is promising lete Peter Tavip, of New Britain, who is receiving special training from Gosper.

CHAMPIONS. They won't be taking he Commonwealth Games, but they Guinea champions all the same. At swimming Carnival held recently. Sue [?]d Clive Walters pose happily after omen's and men's 100 yds. freestyle tips. Below them is the winning yds relay team. The carnival was anised by Apex and Rotary.

Photos: Pat Robertson

South Pacific Games coming up. ■NG has also been lucky in get some expert coaching right on spot. Former world champion r John Landy has been in the itory from Melbourne recently, ;ring sport, holding coaching »es. die Territory must send a team i’erth for experience as long as runners can put up a reasonably 1 show,” he said in Lae. n his visit he renewed an old idship with Kevan Gosper, former tralian Olympic team captain, i is now with the Shell company in aul. Gosper is coaching runners i energy and enthusiasm much to delight of the Gazelle Branch of Amateur Athletic Association, he Lae branch of the AAA hopes sponsor the first Territory-wide etics meeting by mid-year, when likely Games representatives will selected. leanwhile, on February 24, P-NG ninistrator Sir Donald Cleland, in adio address, opened a Territory e appeal for funds which will send team to Perth.

Tie Administration will give £1 every £2 subscribed, and or isers are aiming at a target of at ;t £5,000.