by Caledonia
p. 38 · Read in the full issue
Judo dominated by Caledonia
In its first appearance as an
optional sport at the Games, judo
regularly attracted an inquisitive
and lively crowd in four nightly sessions held indoors at the Ad ministrative College’s new gen eral purpose hall.
Standards were generally good, considering the sport’s infancy in the Islands. The experienced New Caledonians took most of the medals at the expense of French Polynesian, New Guinean and Guam competitors.
Two NG entries, P. Weller and F.
Smith, finished equal third in an early event to collect a bronze medal apiece.
Europeans dominated this sport and Islanders who appeared failed with mostly the same fault—they be came too excited and jumpy early in their bouts, making errors which their opponents quickly capitalised upon.
Guam, which well earned a bronze medal, and French Polynesia, always had a colourful and noisy crew of friends and girlfriends to cheer them on.