New Hebrides
pp. 30-106 · Read in the full issue
Athletes Begin
To Shine
From a Vila correspondent Coconut putting has now ceased in the New Hebrides.
The condominium’s shot-putter hopes for the South Pacific Games in Tahiti in September have now been kitted out with genuine “shot”. The same goes for javelin throwers. They don’t use bamboo any more.
And it’s all thanks to the visit to Vila in August last year of Mr. Jean Poczobut, a French national coach from Paris. Preparation for the Games really started then. He took one look at the scene—no hurdles, no discoi, no javelins, no shot, no stop watches! There soon were, all bought through the New Hebrides South Pacific Games Council using condo minium funds.
During his six-week visit, Mr.
Poczobut encouraged schoolchildren, visited the outer islands for athletic clinics, held regular training sessions in Vila and learned a few words of Pidgin!
He got an inkling of what the condominium’s athletes could do with the first New Hebrides cham pionships which he inspired. Athletes came from Tanna, Malekula and Santo as well as Efate.
Since then training has been going on regularly, apart from a break during the long school holidays co inciding with the hot season. Two VSO’s have been travelling round encouraging athletics in the outer islands. In addition 3,000 metre steeplechasing has been introduced, with much hilarity but with reason able prospects.
Qualifying standards for the Games have been set in all events and are in two categories—‘A’ for certain selection and ‘B’ for possible selec tion.
The highlight of recent prepara tions was a visit from a New Cale donia team in May. Out of 17 track events, nine were won by New Cale donia and eight by the New Hebrides; in the field events the New Cale donians won eight out of 12. Charles Godden, with effortless superiority, ran a superb 100 metres in 10.5s (he was second at Port Moresby) and his 200 metres in 21.7s set a new all comers record. David Naupa, al though coming second in both the 400 (to Lacabanne) and 800 (to
Julien) ran the fastest times ever re corded by a New Hebridean, which shows he is not far from the top; 400 metres in 49.7 s and 800 metres in 2m 0.95.
In the longest races Mathias Tabi ran a fine 1,500 metres in 4m 19.75, a full 6s faster than he has ever done before, to come second only three metres behind Michel Guepy of New Caledonia. Supasong, running only for the second time in this event, won the 3,000 metres steeplechase in 11m 14.95, well in front of Gerald Cortot. New Caledonia won the 5,000 metres, while a scratch New Hebrides 4 x 100 relay team won in 43.25.
In the javelin, Talper Nial of the New Hebrides won with a beautiful throw of 57.2 metres, more than two metres in front of New Caledonia’s Verges. Jonas of the New Hebrides did well in the long jump and triple jump, coming second in both with jumps of 6.71 metres and 13.58 metres respectively. Sacilotto of New Caledonia stunned the crowd with a pole vault of 4.10 metres, never be fore seen in Vila.
New Hebridean women wiped the board in the sprints, Lois Hafu win ning the 100 metres and 200 metres comfortably but in unspectacular times while Anathiel and Irene came first and second in the 400 metres.
Repest of the New Hebrides only
Continued on p. 100
Running in the 5,000 metres steeplechase for the second time only, Supasong clears a hurdle with plenty of room to spare.
managed third place in the 800 metres, behind Diohoue and Wamo of New Caledonia but still broke her own previous record. She should im prove with more local competition.
New Hebrides won the 4 x 100 metres relay.
In the field events Leisale and Didin between them demolished the opposition in the shot, discus and javelin with throws of 10.22 metres, 33.18 metres and 37.65 metres respec tively. It was in the two jumps how ever that Elocie of New Caledonia showed us how far we are behind in these events.
The competition stimulated per formances on both sides and was an unqualified success. The NHAAA has since tried to get a small team to Fiji for similar competition but found it couldn’t afford the fare. As in most countries the AA depends largely on its own fund-raising abilities to pro vide cash and in a small territory the resources are limited.
Since the New Caledonia match we have had the traditional Queen’s Birth day sports meeting (June 11) but this took place in almost continual rain.
No records were broken but athletes began to show great competitive spirit in chasing the tape.
At the Lakatoro Queen’s Birthday sports, Ruth of South-West Bay was only half a second behind the New Hebrides record for the 200 metres, winning in 26.35, the fastest time re corded in Vila this season. Mary Rion, of Nakatoro, cleared 4 ft 8 in. in the high jump. The next meet ing, the national championships, will be held on July 10 with final selection for Tahiti taking place the next day.
Mr. Poczobut returns then, so the New Hebrides expects to be sending a strong team of about 20 athletes to the Games.
Fourteen Pacific territories will take part in September in the Fourth South Pacific Games in Tahiti. The surprise, however, lies in the fact that only five territories will compete in swim ming, which should be the number one sport.
Twelve territories will compete in boxing. As was expected, the host territory, French Polynesia, will parti cipate in every sport. Following are the entries: Athletics: All 14 territories will par ticipate in the men’s events, but on the women’s side the Gilbert and Ellice will be missing.
Basketball: Men: Fiji, Guam, Nauru, New Hebrides, PNG, French
Polynesia, American Samoa, Wallis, New Caledonia. Women: Cooks, Fiji, New Hebrides, PNG, French Polynesia, American Samoa, New Caledonia.
Boxing : All territories except Nauru and GEIC, Underwater fishing : Cooks, Fiji, Guam, French Polynesia, Solomons, Tonga, Wallis, New Caledonia.
Cycling: Guam, New Hebrides, PNG, French Polynesia, Wallis, New Caledonia.
Soccer : Fiji, Cooks, New Hebrides, PNG, French Polynesia, Tonga, New Caledonia.
Golf: Men: Fiji, Guam, New Hebrides, PNG, French Polynesia.
Women: Fiji, Guam, PNG, French Polynesia.
Weight-lifting: Fiji, PNG, French Polynesia, Western Samoa, Wallis, ew ,^ a^.9. XT tt UrJrUc Judo: Fiji, Guam, French Poiynesia, Solomons, Amencan Samoa, New Caledonia.
French’ ( pSynes?a, New
Caledonia.
Rugby: Cooks, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Western Samoa, Wallis, New Caledonia.
Softball: Guam, Nauru, PNG, French Polynesia, American Samoa.
Tennis : Women and men: Cooks, Fiji, GIC, Guam, Nauru, New Hebrides, PNG, French Polynesia,
American Samoa, Western Samoa, New Caledonia.
Table Tennis: Men: Cooks, Fiji, Guam, PNG, French Polynesia, Solomons, New Caledonia. Women: Fiji, PNG, French Polynesia, New Caledonia.
Archery ; Fiji, PNG, French Poly nesia, New Caledonia.
Volleyball : Men: Cooks, Fiji, Guam, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Tonga, Wallis, New Caledonia.
Women: Guam, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Tonga, Wallis, New Caledonia.
Yachting: Cooks, Fiji, Guam, PNG? French Polynesia, Solomons, Western Samoa, New Caledonia.
An interesting point is tha t Guam is participating in 13 out of 17 sports hi h for the s!ze c f Guam is con sidered a yery bjg eflort In tennis, players will probably be able to call for yellow balls if desired.
Competitors and spectators using Mormon facilities at Papeete will be required not to smoke or drink.
N Q Women's Club Meetng
, ... xr „ The annual meeting of the New Guinea Women s Club will be held m Sydney on July 29 at 11 a.m., at 161 Castlereagh Street. Morning tea tol lows.