|
Air New Zealand Open flies to new
heights!
With a series of
percussive salvos from the
traditional drummers and some
sinuous athleticism from the
dance troupe they were
accompanying, the Air New
Zealand Open, in association
with Peugeot and Hotel du Vin.
took off!
Throughout the 2
days the bright sun shone from a
clear blue sky, a friendly
zephyr cooled the players and
kept the flags atop the six
standards fluttering happily, as
Charles Pene orchestrated a
musical melange from the highly
talented group Pacific Stringz
and an eclectic mix of recorded
music ranging from island techno
funk to Pacific reggae.
Tony Stevenson of
Network Visuals donated his
expertise, the use of the large
stage and saw to the erection of
colourful signage emblazoned
with the logos of Air New
Zealand. Peugeot and Auckland
City (a belated tribute to Parks
Manager Greg Keane who provided
us with the terrain in 1993) and
Eric Wegman battled manfully
each day to erect the Hotel du
Vin marquee, a welcome sanctuary
from the sun as well as
tournament HQ.
The 40 or 50
Tahitian players and visitors
smiled, the Aussie contingent
offered a handshake, the
boulistes from Canada and UK
proffered that it one of the
most memorable tournaments they
had attended and to cap it all
the final was a 2 hour plus
marathon of World Class
standard.
Alphonse Ateo had
collected already in the 10 days
preceding the tournament having
won the 1st Auckland Regional
Championship and the East Coast
Bays Sunrise Rotary, Boules to
You trophy in the Starship
Charity event.
Alphonse Ateo
also known as 'Poto' was teamed
with cherubic pointer Robert
Tumg against the 'Tahitian Marco Foyot', Stephan Taurua and Remv
Arapari. All 4 players are great
exponents of the art of petanque
and it was obvious we were in
for a battle royal.
So it proved -
long ends, an early lead to
Stephan and Remy slowly
overhauled by Robert and 'Poto',
pin point accuracy in pointing
and carreau after carreau - the
last point was taken just as the
light failed completely - 13-9
to Tumg and Ateo.
Our sincere
thanks to sponsors Air New
Zealand. Peugeot and Hotel du
Vin for their support. Jean Pene,
Imelda and Sete Mailei and
Buster Emson for running the
Plate competition and Steve
Lawry and Chris Priestley for
organsing an impromptu kids
tournament and shooting
competition which proved very
popular.
The continued
Tahitian presence at the Open
gives all of us a clear
indication of what is possible,
and experience of playing
against world class players.
This can only lead to an
improvement in our own standard
of play as witness 3 NZ teams in
the final 8 and Jorg Schulze and
Clem Boer, 1995 finalists,
making it to the final 4. Plate
competition winners were Mick
Sharpe, Paul O’Connor, runners
up Lily Davis, Mike Dodds.
The petanque
culture in Tahiti, France and
many other overseas countries is
no stranger to monetary rewards
in tournaments. Recognition of
this state of affairs lead the
NZPA to offer cash prizes to the
2 final teams in the Air New
Zealand Open - this is likely to
become the norm for the NZ Open
where we wish to encourage the
presence of overseas players.
Air
New
Zealand reconfirms sponsorship
Despite press
reports of significantly reduced
profits Air New Zealand
underlined its continued
commitment to petanque in New
Zealand with the promise of
reduced price air fares to
enable Cam Calder member of the
executive committee of the FIPJP
to attend the two statutory
meetings of the committee
annually and all players in the
two World Championship teams.
The NZPA is extremely
appreciative of this ongoing
sponsorship and urges all our
members to support Air New
Zealand, Peugeot and all other
sponsors.
MAF report on imitation Asian
boules
Members reported
a plethora of Asian manufactured
boules on the NZ market again
last Christmas. Many mentioned
problems of flaking chrome
surface and poor quality boxes
as well as the interior of some
being filled with a dirt-like
substance.
Fearful of
environmental consequences and
at the request of the NZPA, MAF
analysed a sample boule and
reported that the ‘dirt’
appeared to be furnace slag
which apparently is not
quarantine risk material.
Members can make their own minds
up whether purchase of such
boules is advisable.
NB. Genuine
French made boules are hollow -
the differing weights being
achieved by varying the amount
of metal in the shell of the
boules. They are usually stamped
with a recognisable brand name
or the words 'Made in France'.
Marco Foyot visits New Zealand
Since the NZPA
was formed in October 1993 it
was the committee’s dream to
bring high calibre players to
this country to help promote the
game, give New Zealanders an
idea what was possible and
provide coaching.
The first such
visit occurred with the arrival
of 60 - 70 overseas players to
compete in the 1996 Air New
Zealand Open, the second this
year with the visit of Marco Foyot to Auckland, Napier and
Wellington.
Marco, a past
World Champion, Champion of
France and winner of the
Marseillaise, a tournament
attracting 9000 players
annually, is an acute observer
of the game. exponent of the art
at its highest level and
consummate showman - his visit
garnered extensive media
interest with reports on TV1 and
a half page feature in the NZ
Herald on Marco and Auckland
‘wunderkind’ modest Andrew Mailei.
Locally in Hawkes
Bay, Napier Petanque Club
President Noel Hunt whipped up a
media storm through vast
personal effort and expense and
also ensured Marco was well
looked after during his Bay
sojourn.
Brian Smith and
colleagues took over in
Wellington. TV3 appeared
to cover Marco’s display but
regrettably left before his
arrival at the new Park Ave
terrain owing to other
commitments. None the less an
excellent evening was reportedly
had.
The NZPA wishes
to record its appreciation of
all who contributed to Marco’s
visit especially Obut importers
Brittain & Wvnvard who
sponsored his flight from
Australia.
Peter Leitch 'the Mad
Butcher' who provided the
sustenance for the Herne Bay
evening, Christian Fouquet whose
hard work over a period of time
and personal input for most of
Marco and Patricia’s stay
ensured the success of the
exercise.
Finally that small
band, unnamed, but who know who
they are who got of their
collective posteriors and asked
not "What can the NZ Petanque
Association do for me?” but
“What can I do for the NZ
Petanque Association?”
Remember nothing
happens whether tournaments,
overseas visits or the formation
of a successful local club
without a person or persons
working, often long hours to
make it happen.
Regional
Round Up
Timaru
Peter Spruvt who has been
lobbying over a protracted
period for a public terrain in
Timaru reports a positive
response to his request for
funding though a final decision
will not be known until mid-April!!
It is interesting to note the
despatch with which different
Councils around NZ work. In the
Auckland region for example
North Shore City, Auckland and
Manukau Cities put in public
terrains years ago whilst
Waitakere City despite
significant local and Sports
Trust support is still lost in a
morass of vacilliation.
Taranaki
Regular Club Days: Sunday
start 11am, Wednesday start 1pm.
Club Competition Day - Egmont
Hotel Bell Block, the first
Sunday of every month. 11.30am
start. Open to financial club
members only (weather and
numbers permitting). Court 5
will be available for late
arrivals and casual players at
the competition controllers
discretion. For more information
contact Les Hill (Club Captain) or Alistair Smith
(Club President).
Auckland
-
East Coast Bays
'Rotary/Boules to
You' Charity Tournament
9th February 1997.
56 teams of doubles enjoyed
perfect conditions and almost
$1,000 was raised for the
Starship Childrens Hospital.
Winners Ten Tching and Alphonse Ateo.
-
Puhoi A&P Show Petanque
Championship
Always a fun day played on a
memorably varied terrain and
enlivened this year by the local
country and western club
performing alongside. The
tournament was won
by the highly skilled Ruta brothers Niau and Tika. Thanks
to Louis and Jean-Claude for
ensuring this unique event
continues.
-
Auckland Regional Championship
The first Auckland Regional
Championship was held by the
Auckland
Petanque Association on Thursday
6th February.
Organised and run
by
Geoff Hughes and the team at the
Epsom
Petanque Club it attracted a
world class field
including a jet-lagged Marco
Foyot Foyot who teamed with
partner Patricia and Pascal
Rapon and a strong Tahitian team
of Ten Tching, Tani Shan and
Alphonse Ateo as well as a good
turnout of leading local
players.
A feature of an extremely
enjoyable event was the
concomitant lawn bowls
competition at an adjoining
green this ensured a good
turnout of white clad,
interested, if at times bemused,
spectators throughout the day.
The Secretary’s Cap. donated by
Cam Calder for annual competition
was won
by Ten Tching, Tani Shan and Alphonse
Ateo from local team Niau Ruta,
Tika
Ruta and John Pettit.
-
Cabbage Tree
Petanque Club
The baby of Les Thompson held a
very successful tournament on
their picturesque and testing
bush fringed terrain. Entry fees
were put 'in the pot' and a
percentage awarded to the top
3 place- getters. Winners Christian
Fouquet, Jean Pene, Sete Mailei
from Niau Ruta, John Pettit,
Steve Lawry.
-
North Harbour
Masters Games
Kennedy Park, Castor Bay. 9th
March 1997.
Nearly 100 players enjoyed a
pleasantly
warm day on the challenging
Kennedy
Park terrain.
Winners: Jean Pene, Niau Ruta
and
Christian Fouquet with Runners
Up
Allan Fletcher, Steve Lawrv and
Andrew
Mailei.
-
Manukau Festival of Sport
Cockle Bay, Howick, 2nd March
1997.
20 triples vied for the honours.
Winners: Alan Fletcher, Steve
Lawry and
Andrew Mailei with Runners Up:
Jean
Pene, Niau Ruta, Seti Mailei.
Wellington
Waitangi Day saw the official
opening of the Lower Hutt
petanque terrain at the Park
Avenue Bowling Club, Naenae. The
bowling club has experienced a
falling membership for some
years and was not using it’s
third green.
After many months
of negotiation with the bowling
club and the Hutt City Council.
the council agreed to put up
$8,000 and convert the green into a
petanque terrain. Although the
terrain was still in the process
of settling down, the opening
day attracted approximately 200
people.
The visit of Marco Foyot was
very successful. For two hours
at the Lower Hutt terrain 80
people (including the French
Ambassador) were treated to an
amazing display of petanque
skills as he demonstrated
various aspects of the game.
passed on tips and answered
questions. Many thanks for the NZPA and Obut for bringing Marco
to New Zealand.
The first Saturday in March saw
the successful completion of the
Barber & Lord Peugeot Interclub
League. The league involved six
clubs playing doubles in a round
robin format on Saturday
afternoons over the last three
months.
Going into final round
Silverstream were leading the
competition. but were beaten in
their last match by Masterton
(B) allowing Upper Hutt (A) to
slip through and win the league.
Silverstream were second.
Masterton (A) third and
Wellington fourth.
Sunday, March 9th will see our
first regional tournament at the
Lower Hutt terrain. This doubles
tournament is sponsored by
Rumbles Wine Merchant and is
designed to attract teams from
the new clubs in the Wellington
region.
Everything looks set for the Air
New Zealand National Singles at
Easter. The Lower Hutt terrain
will have settled down and
Wellington will turn on some
great weather! Complete your
entry. return it
the NZPA and come to Wellington
to enjoy a great tournament.
Brian Smith
Dunedin
The terrain
is now completed at the Caversham Bowling
Club, Hazel Avenue
- 6 competition pistes,
or 9 for informal play. Club
sessions are Tuesdays 6.30pm. and
Sundays 1.30pm and a rest home
competition is underway Thursday
afternoons.
The first triples tournament
was held recently with much fun
and enthusiasm - one fanny
included! A doubles tournament
hopefully will be scheduled
within the next couple of
months. The club has a membership
of 60 enthusiastic and friendly
people and membership is growing
weekly.
All visitors are
welcome, there are club boules
for people to use.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir
My family and I have been
heavily involved in another
sport. Ten-Pin Bowling, before
taking up petanque.
We have taken part in a number
of tournaments, most recently
the Air New Zealand Open which
despite getting our backsides
kicked, we thoroughly enjoyed.
My thanks to you and the
committee for an excellent event
and for arranging Marco Foyot’s
visit.
I must say with my experience of
other codes the $10 Association
fee seems a remarkable bargain.
Good luck in the future
Alan Lethbridge
General News
-
Internet
The NZPA is setting up a home
page on the net courtesy of
Sport North Harbour and service
provider iHug.
Be patient. it may not be a
reality for some months. Anyone
interested with expertise in
setting up a site please contact
the Secretary.
-
Boules Gazette
Anyone with a home computer
interested in helping
with/becoming the Editor of the
Boules Gazette please contact
Cam Calder.
Please note this is time
consuming and will suit
an enthusiast with no thought of
personal remuneration.
NZPA AGM
Thursday April 3rd, 6.00pm,
Herne Bay Club. Salisbury
Street.
All members are urged to attend
if possible. Your input is
valued.
NZPA
Membership
Membership allows entry to
all our National Title Events,
members receive the Boules
Gazette and a licence which
allows access to overseas
tournaments.
Just as importantly
you are contributing to the
growth of the game New Zealand
wide by supporting your National
Association who are constantly
engaged in promotion of the
game, maintaining sponsorship
and researching new sponsorship
opportunities.
The NZPA is also
committed to affording members
coaching opportunities both with
NZ National Coach Christian
Fouquet and where possible
overseas players. We have just
arranged a visit from past World
Champion Marco Foyot.
It is the time for the NZPA and
many clubs to send out their
annual subscriptions.
Many clubs are already including
the token $10 NZPA membership
fee in the annual club fee and
forwarding a list of Club/NZPA
members together with membership
fees to the NZPA 'en
masse'.
Please consider supporting your
national association in this
manner in your club.
Cam Calder, Secretary NZPA
|
