against visiting teams
pp. 30-32 · Read in the full issue
Caledonian sportsmen go well against visiting teams
Caledonian sportsmen have been able to match themselves against various overseas teams recently, in preparation for the Third South Pacific Games at Port Moresby in August.
The Caledonian boxers who visited Tahiti in April won three out of five matches. Kaoutche, Mitra Kaloi and Menango were the Caledonian victors, Tama Tehio and Jean Tauotaha won for Tahiti.
A return match in Noumea is planned for June 4, with the possible participation of Fijian and New Zealand boxers as well.
In judo, Caledonians have had the assistance of Japanese sixth dan black belt, Mr. Masaharu Hiranuma from the Kodokan in Tokyo. He left the territory in mid-May, after training the Caledonians for three months.
In soccer, a local selection had two easy victories over visiting players from the Australian churches, who were much less experienced than their hosts. Following these en counters, a Caledonian team was due to visit Australia from May 24- June 2 for three matches—against the NSW selection and Hakoah in Sydney, as well as against a Queens land selection.
In more jovial style, the “Old Boys” of Sydney’s St. George-Budapest visited Noumea in May and played the Caledonian “Old Cagous” (the cagou is a Caledonian bird). This was the return of a similar match held in Sydney last July.
A draw
The “Old Cagous” (minimum age 35) reported their numbers dwindling sharply under the un accustomed intensive training, while a hearty meal on the eve of the match could hardly have quickened reflexes on either side.
The Caledonians took to the field confident in their “speed and weight” (one player weighed about 18 stone).
The final score was a three-all draw.
Back to the more serious business of preparing for the Games, under the charge of Canadian priest Father Paul Brousseau, men and women’s volley ball players were due to visit Australia from May 18-28 for a series of games at the North Sydney Boys’ High School gymnasium.
At the same time the Caledonian
women’s basketballers planned three matches against their Fijian counter parts in Suva from May 22-26.
Mini basketball has attracted many youngsters, some 200 of whom re cently gathered for the first major tournament at Bourail, on the west coast of New Caledonia.
One of the main enthusiasts be hind mini-basketball is a New Zea lander living in Noumea, Mrs. Carrie Gaveau, formerly of North Auckland.
Australian tennis players arrived on May 15 to play matches both at the Mt. Coffyn courts and at the in door stadium (Salle Omnisports). The Australians were led by Graham Lovett.
Meanwhile, as swimmers keyed up their performances, the Caledonian coaches planned a series of evening competitons to be run off exactly as they will be in Port Moresby.
Prior to this practice run, Marie-
Jose Kersaudy established a new Caledonian record for the 200 metre backstroke in 2 m. 41.15. For the men, Jean-Pierre Mamelin swam a new Caledonian record in the 100 metre backstroke at Im. 10s.
As for the young Maria-Dolores Anewy, she now holds seven French records for the under 12-year-olds, having recently swum the 100 metre backstroke in Im. 8.35.
Athletes progressing
Training for athletics is now be ginning to show some progress, with several participants achieving the necessary minima.
First to qualify was Jacques Pothin, who reach 6.95 metres in the long jump. In the 100 metres Wejieme clocked 10,85., while Blameble timed 15.8, in the 110 metre hurdles.
For the hop-step-jump, Christian Kaddour reached 14.42 metres, while discus throwing Martial Bone scored 44.70 metres.
Among the women athletes, two javelin throwers have done well re cently. Elise Poniewa threw 40.52 metres and Soana Simutoga reached 38.60 metres.
Other minima were realised in the 100 metres, with Eseta Dewi Arii clocking 12.95., while in the high jump Loria Meindu reached 1.50 metres.
Better performances are expected from the athletes after training dur ing the school term holidays.
Reports from Paris show that Caledonian Amojlt Beer has reached 19.22 metres with the shot put and Jetelo Wakalina has scored 70.88 metres with the javelin.
Representing Tahiti in Paris, Bourne clocked 22.55. on the 200
The Solomons and the New Hebrides will see the charming Duchess of Kent when she and the Duke make a South Pacific tour in August-September. The Duke will officially open the Games in Port Moresby before going on to the Solomons and the Hebrides.
etres, while Teahu reached 1.93 ictres in the high jump.
To help synchronise the transport I French islanders to the Games, lr. Lionel Dore flew out to the acific from Paris last month.
Mr. Dore announced that the legates from French Polynesia, fallis and Futuna, as well as the ew Hebrides will fly to Noumea » make connections with Port loresby. A Qantas Boeing and UTA Caravelle will be used to perate special flights for the French ;hletes.
In addition, Mr. Dore indicated lat two representatives of the French linistries for Overseas Territories id for Youth and Sport would fly at from Paris for the Games.
Fiji swim times
Fiji’s young swimmers gave some iry satisfactory performances at the lolphin Swimming Club’s 1969 club lampionships in May. Fiji’s South acific Games swimmers will come om the Dolphin Club.
Out of the 35 events contested, I new records were set. Among icm was David Lane’s performance i the under-16 100 metres back roke event. Lane, a promising mdidate for the Games team, re imed Im. 12.65., bettering his old ;cord by 1.25. The previous record as set at last year’s championships.
Games team certainty Phil Wilkins ►ppled the club record for the open 30 metres men’s freestyle, which ad stood at sm. 40.55.
Wilkins swam the distance in 4m. 3.4 s.—which is 4.65. under the ames qualifying time set by the mateur Swimming Association of iji.
Sailosi twice scooped the pool in inning the 100 metres open freestyle Im. 16.85.) and the 100 metres open reaststroke (Im. 24.85.), both times flipsing qualifying limits. For the reaststroke, Sailosi finished 13.45. iside the qualifying time.
The Association’s times will have > be met during selection trials by le Games training squad, which will s named after Fiji’s National hampionships on June 5, 6 and 7.
By early May, three boys and three iris had met or bettered the Asso ation’s time requirements. They were hil Wilkins, Sailosi, David Lane, orraine Emberson, Lyndal Probert id Julie Murphy.
In the Dolphin Club champion lips, Lorraine won the under-14 00 metres individual medley in 2m. 6.ls. —breaking the club record by
6.45. Her time was 4.95. under the ASAF qualifying time.
In the under-14 100 metres back stroke, Lorraine returned Im. 24.35., breaking the club record by 2.35.
This time was only 3/10ths of a second outside the Games qualifying time.
Swimming with the under-16-year olds in the 200 metres individual medley, Lorraine returned a record time of 2m. 52.75. Lyndal Probert was second with 2m. 53.35.
Lorraine also won the under-14 100 metres freestyle in Im. 13.35. and the under-16 100 metres butterfly in Im. 25.15., another club record.
With five wins, three of them records, Lorraine Emberson’s per formance was the most spectacular among the girls. But she had strong competition.
Lynda Probert won the under-16 100 metres freestyle (and the Bob Lane Cup) in Im. 125., a new club record by 2/10ths of a second. This qualified her for the training squad.
In the under-14 100 metres breast stroke, Julie Murphy returned a time of Im. 32.55., lowering the club record by 12s. and bettering the ASAF qualifying time by 5.55.
Fiji athletics figures
An invitation meet was held at Buckhurst Park in Suva on May 17 to allow the newly-appointed selec tors for the South Pacific Games, Viliame Liga, Mike Joyce and Mike D’Ath, to see potential competitors in action.
Competing himself, Southampton athlete Mike Joyce saw his own previous record for the 1,500 metres broken by Usaia Sotutu, who passed Joyce with 300 metres to go and ran the final lap in just under 60 seconds.
Sotutu’s time was 4m. 0.35., cutting two-tenths of a second off the All- Comers record held by Joyce. It was one-tenth of a second faster than
Sotutu’s own national record of 4m. 0.45., set in April.
In the 400 metres, Saimoni Tamani finished in 495., breaking his own Fiji and All-Comers records, and second place-getter, Samu Yavala, clocked 49.35. equalling the old time.
The 18-year-old sprinter Eliki returned 21.65. in the 200 metres, equalling Rupeni Ravono’s three year-old Fiji and All-Comers record.
Competitors in the women’s events also showed promise. The national women’s 100-metre champion, Miriama Kadavu, won the 200 in 26.65., a personal best for her.
Livia Tuigunu, who has a 61second personal best in the 400 metres, showed great potential over that distance, and youthful Aviama ran a promising 800 metres.
Viliame Liga, the Lautoka team manager, threw the javelin 205 ft and reached more than 135 ft with the discus.
Magnificent marathon
Fiji’s “Flying Buan”, slightly-built Usaia Sotutu, achieved another of his ambitions in May when a magnificent performance won him Fiji’s first marathon.
He burst into world and Olympic class when he covered the 26 miles 385 yards in 2 hours 26 minutes 14.4 seconds.
Sotutu, undoubtedly the man to watch during the South Pacific Games, now holds all the Fiji national records, from the 800 to the 10,000 metres.
His performance in the marathon was only 17 minutes 14.4 seconds outside the world’s best time, set a few months ago.
It was a performance which Mr.
Alan Scott, former president of the Fiji Amateur Athletic Association, described as “the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen in many athletics events anywhere in the world”.
Second and third in the marathon
Papua-New Guinea will issue special Games stamps in August. This one (20 cents) shows the main Games arena, with Port Moresby harbour in the background.
were veteran runner Saulekaleka, of Ra (his time was 2:40:56.8) and Kali vati Raciri (2:43:28.6). Both per formances put past South Pacific marathon times in the shade, and both were within the 2 hours 45 minutes set as the qualifying time for the Games in Port Moresby.
Much praise was given to the fourth place-getter—l B-year-old Vuto, who ran courageously to finish in 2:52:29,8 although his legs “went to jelly” after 24 miles.
It was an extremely impressive achievement for such a young, in experienced athlete.
Only three of the seven starters— Satya, Bera and Salmon! T., the sprinter—failed to complete the marathon course, which began from Buckhurst Park in driving rain.
Sotutu started the race wearing sandals and socks, but shed them at eight miles. He took an early lead ahead of Raciri and covered the first three miles in an impressive 16£ minutes.
At 24 miles, he was still fresh and smiling. At the finish, he needed only a brief rest. He said that when he started out, he had genuine doubts about whether he could finish—but at 13 miles, he knew he had it in the bag.
“I still think I can run it a little faster,” he added.
NG qualifying times
Five contestants in the Rabaul Secondary Schools Carnival in May turned in performances which bettered qualifying times for the Games.
Beddy Liam, 16, twice equalled the NG women’s 100 metres record of 12.85., and is considered a definite prospect for the Games.
Salita Pipit bettered the Games 400 metres record with a 61.45. run, 1.65. under the qualifying time, and Pastep Peni, second-place getter in the 400 metres, also bettered the qualifying time.
Misiel Woa, in a two-minute run over 800 metres, became the first to reach the Games qualifying time for the distance, and Lavah Tingdai re corded the best shot put throw of 36 ft 11 in,, 11 in. better than the Games qualifying distance. ® Tourism in the Solomons went further ahead after the visit of the P and O liner, Oriana, on May 7, to the capital Honiara.
Nearly 2,000 passengers went ashore and shopping was high on the list of their activities. The highlight for many visitors was local singing and dancing.