Gilbertese, Ellice

Athletes Shape

Up For Noumea

From a Tarawa Correspondent The performances of men in sport are often quite unpredictable. On many occasions an athlete with some talent and a ton of guts will upset an over confident or temperamental favourite. Thus the essence of select ing a Games team is to pick re presentatives with the right mental attitude and determination. The GEIC’s team will be announced on October 15.

LET’S look at our Noumea chances.

First, it’s worth noting that it is highly unlikely any women will represent the colony this year.

Tennis does not look hopeful at this stage. Despite the natural abilities of our tennis team at Suva in 1963 they failed to win a match and were tenth in the final placings.

This was our biggest disappoint ment at Suva. We found that good judgment, together with natural and graceful styles, do not produce tournament winners. Unless our players develop the essential winning drive, power to force the game, and the ability to scramble out of tight spots, they may not fare any better at Noumea. Our likely team of three will probably include Wiram Tarawa, who competed at Suva.

Table Tennis

A bronze medal for table tennis at Suva was heartening, no doubt partly attributable to our lucky draw.

Kokea Malua, who competed at Suva and should be selected again, believes that our general standard of play has lifted.

But unlike athletics, table tennis is not a measurable sport until you reach the Games and meet the op position. No doubt other teams are showing improved form too. We are hoping for at least a bronze medal from our three-man team.

The colony did not send a basket ball team to Suva, but it is hoped that a Gilbertese and Ellice team (from Nauru) will represent us at Noumea. This team has been play ing together for several years now and has beaten the Nauru team at their two meetings. (Nauru was fourth at Suva). We thus expect our basketball team will prove to be formidable opponents.

In athletics, the big question mark is can coach Peter Barker (who is teaching the boys by his own example) bring these lads to the peak of their potential by November?

Half-miler Kiali needs only to build up his stamina for the final 220 yards, and he will produce a time of around 2 mins flat (Suva record 2m 2.4s).

Mile runner Tion also lacks strength for the last part of the journey. By November he should be able to produce 4 mins 25 secs for the 1,500 m. (Suva record 2m 23.4s).

Our sprinters are unlikely to reach the Games standard, although, one lad, Flailiva, who has recently turned to jumping, is showing some promise in that field. He cleared 20ft 8 ins in his early attempts.

Flailiva and the other two already mentioned are students at King George V School.

It was reported from Ocean Island recently that their high jumper had cleared 5ft 9 ins; and from Nauru that several boys are training in high jump, discus, sprint and distance track events.

Robbie Morgan-Morris, who coaches colony athletes at Nauru, will himself compete in all distance track events, and will represent Nauru. His efforts on behalf of this colony are surely in the true spirit of sports manship.