Caledonians Match

Against Overseas

Sportsmen

From a Noumea correspondent

International tennis, judo,

cycling, soccer, swimming and

motor racing are among the latest events involving Cale donian sportsmen at home and overseas.

Caledonian swimmers again hit the French headlines during the Euro pean summer when young South Pacific Games star Dolores Anewy won the 800 metres women’s freestyle title at the national championships in France. Dolores, who was accom panied on the French trip by swim mer Marlene Hanner, is now 13.

She won the French title in 9m. 52.45. (Her time at the Port Moresby Games last year when she got the silver medal, was 10m. ss. Winning time then was 10m. 3.85.) Soon afterwards, Caledonians’ at tention turned to tennis, with the arrival in Noumea of four players from Australia; Allen Shapter, Roger Waugh, John Peetz and Alan Cook, all of Sydney. Allen Shapter coached

some keen Caledonian players and all played against Caledonians and gave exhibitions. The men were impressed with the composite surface of Noumea’s indoor stadium.

Young Melanesian player N’Godrella Wanaro returned from France to match himself against some of the locals. Wanaro has been training four to five hours daily and had played in tournaments at Nice, on the French Riviera. In one out standing performance in Noumea, he proved his greatly improved technique over Caledonian men’s champion Michel Momaghini.

Meanwhile, young Caledonian soccer players were able to try their strength against a visiting soccer team from St. George, Sydney.

Major event among Caledonian winter sports, however, was the staging of the Oceanic Judo Union Championships in Noumea.

Australia, which dominated all events, was heavily represented. New Zealand, French Polynesia, New Hebrides and New Caledonia all had one team each. The Australians won all events—junior, senior and open.

Only in the junior titles did other teams have any chance—the Cale donians coming second in all four events. In senior events, NZ, Tahiti and New Caledonia managed to gain third places, with Australia filling second as well as the first places.

The Caledonian success was aided by the national French coach Mr.

Gres, who was again visiting the territory to train the locals. Donald Chantreux was the most outstanding Caledonian performer.

After the Oceania judo champion ships, cycling fever raced through New Caledonia, with the 12-day round-the-island bicycle tour.

For the first time, two metro politan French cyclists nominated for the event, as well as competitors from Tahiti, NZ and Australia.

Dolores Anewy, champ at 13.