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Air New Zealand Open -
Tahitian Magic Enthrals
What a
tournament! The 2nd Air New
Zealand Open in conjunction with
Peugeot and Hotel du Vin, held
at Victoria Park. February 10 &
11 had
it all - colour, good humour, tension, petanque of the highest
standard coupled with an overlay
of ukelele and guitar music and
rich vocal harmonies.
Players from as
far afield as Sweden, UK and
France joined a 50 plus strong
contingent from Tahiti, a small
group from Australia and 30 or
so local teams to create a true
international event.
Elizabeth
Degremont was a tower of
strength in helping overseas
teams arranging their
accommodation and liaising with
them during their stay.
The first day of
the tournament saw only a few
local teams make it through the
pool play. Any rivalry was
forgotten when the majority of
players gathered for a BBQ at
the Herne Bay Petanque Club on
Saturday evening.
As ever it
seems with Tahitians present,
proceedings were accompanied by
frequent bursts of song and
music from those assembled.
The next day Victoria
Park was the venue for petanque
of a world class standard. The
players, Robert Tumg and
Teipoarii Pea, who had beaten
last years reigning French World
Champions in a tournament in
Tahiti were themselves beaten in
the NZ Open semi final by 17
year old Tahitian Junior
Champion, Rainui Tauiva and his
partner Henri Maere.
Rainui and
Henri went on to beat Joel
Tahitorai and Fred Aiamu in a
game of petanque of see-sawing
fortunes, high tension and
utmost precision. The winners
enjoyed a sojourn stay at Hotel
du Vin.
The NZPA records
its appreciation to Air New
Zealand, Peugeot and Hotel du
Vin and other sponsors for their
support of this highly
successful international event
which attracted widespread
coverage in local papers, the NZ
Herald, local and national
radio.
IZB carried reports throughout
both days of the competition,
and TV items appeared on TV1
Sportsnight, TV3 and ATV. Air
New Zealand Inbound Flight
magazine carried an item on the
event throughout March.
First Trans-Tasman Challenge
During the
Air New Zealand Open all NZ and Australia
teams having been knocked out -
the opportunity was taken to
hold the first Trans Tasman
Challenge.
NZ won on points
difference. The Aussies presence
was the culmination of talks the
Secretary had been having with
the Australia Petanque
Federation since February 1995.
It is hoped that the
Trans Tasman Challenge will
become an open event.
Devonport
Christmas Tournament
Thunderstorms
lead to the event being
postponed from its normal
time of the weekend before
Christmas to late January
when Devonport turned on
sparkling seas, blue skies
and plenty of sun to provide
a truly magical setting.
Supported by
the local Devonport Business
Communitv and organised by
Cam Calder the event
attracted well over 50 teams
and lead to some spirited
competition. A number of
fancied teams fell by the
wayside. Darren Conway and
Zac Rees played consistently
well to edge out Mick Sharpe
and Michel Fouquet.
Hanes Harvest
Hawkes Bay Petanque
Championship
Michel
Fouquet teamed with son
Christian and member of the
National Championship
winning team, Laurel
Priestley and had their
moment in the sun winning
the above championship
beating an intensely
competitive Masterton team
lead by Gary Wilson.
Noel Hunt,
President of the Napier
Petanque Club was called in
at the eleventh hour and did
an excellent job of managing
a competition which saw play
at a number of different
vineyards scattered around
the Bay. A great atmosphere
- well worth a visit next
year.
Incidentally
congratulations to Gavin for
spreading the word on the
game in the ‘Bay’.
Manukau
Festival of Sport
The Cockle
Bay Petanque Club hosted
about 20 teams for an
enjoyable day of petanque on
Sunday March 5th. The
weather was warm and fine
and an initially wet soft
terrain dried out as the day
went providing a variable
challenge.
Zac and
Darren teamed with John
Kelly and, emulating recent
performances by the Auckland
Rugby team came from behind
in a succession of games to
earn the winners medal.
Runners up were Nick
Whittington. Ian McCullough
and
Brian
Forbes.
Hibiscus
Coast
Petanque Club
A small field
braved blustery rainy
conditions at a competition
to mark the opening of the
new terrain adjacent to the
Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre.
Christian and Michel Fouquet
did the business this time
against Jean-Pierre Bedel
and Patrick Bon.
Jean-Pierre
and Patrick have featured
consistently in the top 3 in
tournaments over the last
couple of years and I
suspect it wont be too long
be fore we see their names
in the New Zealand team.
North Harbour
Masters Games
Sunday March
17th. 120 players turned out
for the 3rd North Harbour
Masters Games held for the
first time on the Peugeot
Terrain. Kennedy Park,
Castor Bay on the North
Shore.
This venue must hold
the record for the longest
gestation period of any -
initial works being started
before Christmas 1994 and
finally completed 36 hours
before the tournament some
16 months later.
The immature
terrain provided a testing
surface - demanding the
‘tirers’ attempt to strike
‘au fer’ and offering a
challenge to the ‘pointer’.
North Shore City Council are
to be congratulated on
providing this facility
which is already seeing a
regular group meeting there
Wednesday afternoons.
Glenda Bostwick has promised that
more trees will be planted
to provide much needed
shade.
Some
highlights of the event were
a good turnout and quality
performances from the newly
formed Epsom Petanque Club,
vociferous support from
Cockle Bay members for their
teams, a gripping semi-final
which went point by point
and lasted well over an hour
and one that was all over in
4 ends.
The final
itself in fading light was a
bit of an anti-climax. At
one stage a measurement was
made by the light of a
cigarette lighter.
The final
ends were played in pitch
darkness, current National
Champions Clem Boer, Steve
Lawry and Laurel Priestly
beating Cam Calder and Mick
Sharpe from last years New Zealand
team and Peter McNab who has
started playing the game
this year in an enjoyable
good-humoured match.
News from Christchurch
Neville Mines
reports negotiations are well
advanced for the Christchurch
Club to find a home and a large
terrain with the current RSA Bowling
Club adjacent to Hagley
Park - this is exciting news.
It seems that the
Epsom Bowling Club experience
where they have signed around
100 new members since putting in
a petanque terrain in late 1995
has been noted by Lawn Bowls
Clubs across the country and
that many such cooperative
ventures are on the cards.
Singapore Invitation
Two
teams of 3 from
NZ have once again been invited
to contest the annual Singapore
International, 7 & 8
September 1996. Accommodation is
provided but air fares would be
the responsibility of the
players.
Any team interested in
more details please contact the
Secretary. Countries invited
include Malaysia, Thailand,
Laos, Cambodia, Seychelles. New
Caledonia and Australia. It
would be a great experience!
Membership Renewal
You will find a
renewal form with this
newsletter. Please return the
form with a
cheque for $10.00 plus your licence
to the NZPA Secretary. A stamped addressed
envelope would make life easier
for Karen in the office.
NZPA Badges available soon
We expect
delivery of badges incorporating
the NZPA Logo as seen on the
masthead of the Boules Gazette,
early May. These will be $5.00
each. SAE appreciated if writing
to the office.
Withdrawal from New Zealand team
to Essen
The NZPA was sad
to hear from Carl Sietses that
he would be unable to take up
his place in the NZ team to
Essen
in September.
Accordingly a
replacement will be chosen from
the 3 members of the team coming
3rd in the National
Championships ie. Jean Pierre
Bedel, Patrick Bon, Chris Ball.
If no one from
that team can go then players
from the 4th team will be
offered the chance: Chris
Priestlev, Jorg Schulze, Christain Fouquet.
The NZPA wishes
its representatives all the best
in the Essen experience! The
NZPA has negotiated attractive
deals for team members
travelling to Essen. These may
also be available to all NZPA
members wishing to travel at
around the same time. Those
interested please contact the
Secretary.
Cabbage Tree Petanque Club
Congratulations to Les Thompson
of Mt Albert. Les has been
working solidly over the last 6
months to get a petanque terrain
in the Mt Albert area.
Whilst the
terrain itself is not yet built
Les has negotiated an
understanding with the Edenvale
Bowling Club for use of their
facilities and held the first
meeting for those interested in
forming a petanque club in the
area.
The Cabbage Tree
Petanque Club has been duly
formed and a steering committee
appointed. Les states the
council have been very
supportive. Watch this space.
Cam Calder, Secretary NZPA |
