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2006
Trans Tasman Challenge, Levin
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New Zealand Team
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Open:
Ian Baker,
Roberta
Campbell, Sharon
Cannon,
Joanne
Evans,
Christian
Fouquet Barbara
Johnston,
David
Lippard,
Laurel
Priestley,
Michael
Rocks,
Bethne Rouse,
Richard Swaney,
Dirk
Winnie
Manager: Liz Rocks
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Senior:
Claire Bradburn,
Marie Fenton,
Dawn Gardner,
Doug Hay,
Rex
Hayes,
Pat Jamieson,
Reed
Jamieson,
Terry Lambert,
Margaret Maher,
Trevor Neilson,
Jean Parley,
Bill Peachey
Manager: Murray Porter
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Australian Team
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Open:
Elisa Bommarito,
Pierre Boudan,
Jean
Paul Bouyer,
Arianne Ernest,
Arnaud Ernest,
Eric Leconte,
Kate Mangan,
Shirley
Marshall,
Raluca
Raicu,
John Wright,
Josie Wright,
Kevin Wright
Manager/Coach: Alan Irwin
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Senior:
Judith Armstrong,
Arlette Figon,
Mike Mulvihill,
Valmai Nicoll,
Judy Porra,
Robert Prime,
Ailine
Roussel,
Luc Roussel,
Peter
Sharpe,
Dave Ward,
Sue Williams,
Brett Williams
Coach: Adrian Clements
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Results
Manager's Report
Thursday 11th May
6.00pm and the New Zealand Open
Team had all arrived at
Bassingers Motel in Levin. Some
had managed a practice at the
terrain earlier in the
afternoon. The accommodation was
very good although in future we
would try to ensure that the
twin shares had the units with
separate bedrooms - fairly minor
but something to improve on for
the future.
Dinner that evening was a shared
meal in a unit after some of the
team had done some great buying
at the supermarket and the rest
of the team had shifted a table,
some chairs, plates and cutlery.
A great way to start the
weekend. All players were
supplied with a snack bag for
the weekend.
Friday 12th May
We were all at the Horowhenua
Petanque Club by 10am, along
with the Seniors, where the
presentation of uniforms was
made to the players. We had
purchased an extra polo shirt
for the New Zealand players to
sign, which was presented to the
Horowhenua Club on Sunday
evening.
The rest of the morning was
taken up with a practice session
until a lunch break around
12:30pm with the players free
until a return at 2.00pm for
another two hours practice. The
weather on Friday was cool with
intermittent showers - a good
trial for the weekend's weather.
During the afternoon Nyra and
Geoff Bentley informed me that
TV1 Sports News was interested
in coverage of play and an
interview with some of the
players. Practice finished
around 4:30pm and off back to
the motel to shower and change
prior to returning to the
clubhouse for a social hour or
so with the Australians.
Friday night dinner was a varied
affair with some of the team
preferring a bar meal and
watching the rugby, six of us
eating dinner in the adjacent
restaurant and a couple having a
takeaway and a quiet time back
at the motel. All had returned
by 9:30pm and spent a quiet
evening before competition the
following day.
Saturday 13th May
Saturday morning was cool and
wet on arrival at the terrain.
Both teams assembled on the
piste and first up was the flag
raising ceremony along with the
National anthems. The mayor then
welcomed everyone to the
district and the event, and gave
a short history of the Club and
the Council's involvement in its
development.
Michael Rocks,
Acting CEO, then spoke to the
teams and Alan Urwin,
manager/coach of the Australian
team, made the reply. The umpire
for the weekend, Barbara
Whittington, spoke about
tournament conditions. The New
Zealand team then went over and
shook hands with the Australians
and the competition was under
way.
The draw and results sheets were
set up in a small caravan which
was Sue Neilson's domain for the
two days. Brian Smith performed
his duties as tournament
coordinator with his usual
attention to detail, ensuring
that everything ran smoothly.
At 10.00am the TV1 reporter
arrived and spent the next two
and a half hours filming and
getting his interviews with
Christian Fouquet, Arnaud
Everest and Laurel Priestley.
TV1 Sports News showed around
three minutes of the tournament
on their 6.00pm Sports News,
along with the interviews.
Thanks must go to the Bentleys
for arranging this, not an easy
thing to achieve as far as
petanque coverage goes.
After a slow start in the
morning, New Zealand recovered
to even things up after the
third round of the doubles.
After two rounds of triples at
the end of the day,
New Zealand
was ahead 33 - 27. This was the
first Trans Tasman where New
Zealand was ahead at the end of
the first days play.
Play
finished under lights, in the
mist and with a heavy dew
falling, at around 9.15pm. I
sent the players back to the
motel to shower and relax - and
watch the rugby - and picked up
Indian takeaways for everyone,
which we again shared together.
Sunday 14th May
The weather was worse with very
heavy rain and more wind than
the previous day, but
New Zealand
were focused on only one thing,
extending their lead and
finishing off the opposition. At
the end of the third round of
the doubles we were two points
short of victory and it was a
race by the triples teams to see
who would take that honour.
Joanne, Sharon and Barbara
played a blinder and it was all
over! All the New Zealand teams
won their games ending the
tournament with an emphatic win
71 - 37with one round of triples
not needing to be played.
Play finished at 5.00pm and the
presentation of the medals to
the Open team and speeches of
thanks were made at the
clubroom. The team then returned
to shower and change before
dinner at 7.00pm at the Masonic
Village. This was a great
opportunity to mix and mingle
and enjoy the comradeship which
exists between the two
countries.
Carleen Fitzgerald, president of
the Horowhenua Club, spoke about
the club's excitement at hosting
the event and about what a great
experience it had been.
The New Zealand Seniors and
their manager, Murray Porter,
and the Australian seniors, had
their medals presented by Bryan
Wells, a member of the
organising committee. The trophy
to the winning team was
presented by Alan Urwin.
The
trophy to the New Zealand Open
team was handed to Michael Rocks
by Alan Urwin, who then asked me
to accept it on behalf of the
team. Alan Urwin spoke again on
behalf of the Australian team to
say how much they had
appreciated the welcome and
organisation over the whole
weekend and the evening
concluded shortly after.
Congratulations to Murray Porter
on his excellent management of
the highly successful Seniors
Team.
The Horowhenua Club out did
itself in terms of organisation
and a huge vote of thanks must
go to all those club members
involved in such a successful
event. The food provided
deserves a mention as there was
no shortage of healthy food and
the extras such as wonderful
homemade soup and an endless
supply of hot drinks was superb.
For myself this was a first as
manager and a thoroughly
enjoyable, if tiring,
experience, due in no small way
to the great team I had to work
with. Their performance both on
and off the piste was exemplary
and every member of the team
gave of their utmost, with the
result showing their commitment.
Needless to say, I am more than
happy with that result.
Photographs: Brian Smith
Performance
After a heavy loss in the first
round of the doubles, Joanne
Lippard (playing in her first
international for New Zealand)
and Sharon Cannon, recovered to
win all five remaining rounds of
doubles, and joined by Barbara
Johnston in the triples, went on
to win two out of three rounds
of triples over the weekend.
Laurel Priestley and Barbara
Johnston had a good steady round
of doubles on the first day,
taking two out of three games
and finishing with four out of
six wins in the doubles.
Laurel
added another triples win to her
overall tally and Barbara added
two triples wins to hers.
Bethne Rouse and Roberta
Campbell (playing in her first
international for New Zealand)
were unbeaten in the six rounds
of doubles, two of those wins 13
- 1, 13 - 0. Joined by Laurel
they added a win in the triples
to their overall tally. Their
two losses in the triples were
12 - 13, 12 - 13.
Richard Swaney and Ian Baker
made a less than auspicious
start in the doubles on the
first day, but joined by Michael
Rocks were unbeaten in three
rounds of triples and took out
two of the three rounds of
doubles on the second day.
Dirk Winnie and David Lippard
also started the doubles with a
heavy loss, battled to 11 - 13
in round two, and came home with
a win in round three. Joined by
Christian Fouquet they also won
three rounds of triples over the
weekend, and picked up another
win from the second days three
rounds of doubles.
Michael Rocks and Christian
Fouquet (Christian stepping up
to take the shooters role) were
the most successful of the men's
doubles teams finishing with
three out of six wins, one of
which was a 13 - 0 stunner, and
another where tied at 8 - 8 they
took five points on the next end
to take the game.
Overall a successful team with
everyone contributing, the women
making an outstanding start in
the doubles on the first day,
and the men being unbeaten in
the triples.
In conclusion, I believe, like
one of the All Blacks selectors
said the other evening,
selection is not just about
results, it is about character,
self belief, self motivation,
fortitude and an almost
indefinable inner fire, a will
to succeed that will drive a
person to lift their performance
under pressure.
Liz Rocks
The Golden Oldies (Trans Tasman
Seniors)
It was a golden ‘senior moment'
on the final day of the Trans
Tasman Senior Series when Trevor
Neilson and Reed Jamieson
clinched the 13th point in their
second round doubles game.
For Trevor and Reed, they had
successfully navigated their
combination through the
tournament undefeated and for
the NZ Senior Team; a united
team effort had reversed the
result from last year in Sydney,
and still with three rounds
available to play.
The Seniors
dominated their Aussie
counterparts throughout the two
days of competition, achieving a
near unassailable lead by the
end of day one, with the final
result of winning the doubles 20
- 10, and the Triples 7 - 1.
Personally for me, it was as
much a moment for elation as
well as relief on clinching
victory. Selecting a group of
players from throughout NZ and
then forming them into
successful partnerships was
always going to be a challenge,
particularly as the majority of
the team had minimal to no
playing time with each other
prior to the tournament.
As in
all good stories I was treated
to a happy ending with all team
members combining incredibly
well for a well deserved
victory.
There were many interesting
'senior moments' that came out
of the weekend. If there was an
award to be dished out, Terry
Lambert would have taken first
prize. Prior to the tournament,
a deposit for accommodation, etc
was required from all players to
be sent to the PNZ. Some how
Terry addressed his deposit to
the Inland Revenue!
Terry had also been out shopping
for a cheap pair of black pants
to wear at the tournament and
was chuffed to purchase a pair
for $10, only to walk around the
corner to see them for sale in
another shop for $8. To add
insult to injury his pair was
too long so had a tailor take up
the hems? $15 later Terry's $8
pants had ended up costing him
$25.
Photographs: Rex Hayes
The team members took away with
them many everlasting memories
from their Trans Tasman
experience.
Trevor Neilson says:
The realisation of being picked
to play for your country doesn't
really hit you until you hear
your own National Anthem being
played. You see it on TV, at the
beginning of all the big games
of netball and rugby, but this
is you.
After playing and developing
your favourite game around the
world for ten years you have
finally reached a point in your
playing career where you have
the opportunity to prove you are
good enough to play for New
Zealand. It might be the Seniors
but it is still
New Zealand.
Playing alongside other
passionate petanque players
lifts your thinking, how are we
going to play together, who is
going to make the decisions, how
far do I throw the cochonnet.
Lots of questions but also lots
of pleasure in using that
knowledge, lifting your partner,
letting him play the winning
point, swapping roles when it is
not working, focusing like you
have never done before and
winning every game.
After two rounds on Sunday there
is only one game left to get a
result to give your team the two
match points to win the Trans
Tasman Challenge over one of the
greatest sporting nations. It's
not pressure but being patient
and waiting for your
opportunities and going for the
shots you believe in. Finally
the black magnet button moves
next to number 13. Yes, yes we
have done it. Victory.
Rex Hayes says:
New Zealand has lost quite a few challenges against
Australia in different sports,
so it was about time to step up
and do 'our bit' for petanque
and country.
To wear the Silver Fern and
represent our country is an
honour and privilege that I will
never forget. One had to prove
to the selectors of being worthy
for selection, and once
achieved, it was utmost to put
in lots of training/practise.
The results from our efforts are
in the final score.
The Australian Seniors seemed
reluctant to shoot but instead
tried to out point……costly for
them…..!
I will look forward to seeing
what happens in the Trans Tasman
Challenge next year in
Australia. The Aussies will be
out for revenge, and I would
like to be there so I will be
working hard over the next
twelve months to retain a place
in the team. I very, much
enjoyed the camaraderie of our
team and the work our Manager
put into the selection of
players and support with
training and the weekend of the
Challenge.
Pat and Reed Jamieson
comments:
Three days of
competition and friendship, a
chance to prove that some of the
shots that you had been practising for months were
working and an opportunity to
test your ability when it comes
to tactics.
After two days of
intense games, pulling out some
of your best shots and revelling
in the lucky ones, to come away
victorious makes all those weeks
of practise in the fading
evening light worthwhile. It was
a huge learning curve in a
supportive atmosphere, imbuing
you with confidence.
We made a lot of friends amongst
the Aussies who were absolutely
tremendous fun, and left
extending invitations for us to
stay with them when we travel
over the ditch. It was an
absolutely fantastic
opportunity, and we both feel we
enjoy the game even more from
the experience. Definitely give
selection a go-you and
ultimately your Club will
benefit from your new enthusiasm
and skill level.
Dawn Gardner reflects:
We
stood smart in black and silver
ferns for the raising of the
flags and the National Anthems.
The flags hung limply against
the leaden sky. The Australian
green and gold uniforms and the
bright green banners of the
National Bank provided colour on
a grey day.
What an honour and privilege to
be selected to play for one's
country. No time for further
musing as we were quickly into
our work, to play our very best
and to win. But we players were
only one part of this magical
victorious weekend. My greatest
admiration goes to those
Horowhenua officials who
attended to the scoring at the
end of each piste, who stood by
their post despite the adverse
weather and who gave us little
whispered words of 'well done'.
At the end of each successful
game there were great enveloping
hugs from Murray, our own
Coach/Manager. I will never
forget Sue Neilson's delight
with each of our wins and her
warm hands on each side of my
cold face when I gave here the
final scores. Last but not
least, it was wonderful to have
the support from the spectators,
including the group from Kapiti;
all dressed up in their black
and white "Go Kiwi" polo shirts.
I am proud to be a New Zealander
and to have been a tiny part of
this great weekend. Thank you
Murray and thank you to the team
especially my playing partners
Pat, Margaret and Jean. How
great to be a Golden Oldie”
Murray Porter
Profile: Ira Turvey,
Northcote Petanque Club
Ira was born 57 years ago in
Palmerston North with cerebal
palsy. His immediate family
consists of one brother, three
sisters and both parents. The
family and extended family have
always been very supportive of
Ira, despite him being a bit of
a handful in the early days.
He
started his schooling in Rotorua
(Specialist School and had
physio and speech therapy at the
hospital). At age 9 he came to
Auckland, being educated at Brown's Bay Primary,
Murray's Bay Intermediate
followed by Westlake Boys High.
Ira obtained School Cert and UE
and went to University and AUT
where he obtained a Data
Processing Certificate.
Ira spent 25 years doing data
entry and software development
for an insurance company until
he was made redundant in 1998.
Since then he has been on an
Invalids Benefit but still
manages to do 20 hours voluntary
work a week, looking after the
accounts for seven different
Clubs.
Ira has had a driver licence for 30 years but had to
have his car adapted as he is
unable to use his right arm and
leg. Travelling overseas has
been a memorable part of his
life, visiting Europe,
Japan, Israel, Egypt,
UK, Singapore and Australia.
He joined Northcote Petanque
Club in 2000 after reading a
flyer put in his letterbox. His
reason for joining was that he
wanted to be more physically
active and enjoyed mixing with
people. He had a friend adapt a
walker to make it easier for him
to play petanque and only needs
someone to place the boules in
his hands.
He has the nickname
'Speedy One' and over the years
has improved his game
considerably. Ira has a great
sense of humour and enjoys our
'Socials' and Thursday night
dinners at the Club. He has
served on our committee for four
years and is a well respected
member of the Club.
Ira is the epitome of someone
who has had deal with adversity,
by way of his handicap, but has
managed to overcome many
obstacles and go on to live a
fulfilling life.
John Leadbeater
Petanque: Bay player tastes
glory
Hawke's Bay petanque player
Robert Wilson produced a major
coup at the weekend and it paid
off big time.
"Twelve-time national champion
Georgio Vakauta and his wife
Ruby don't normally play out of
Auckland unless it's a national
event as they've got five
children to look after up there.
But they agreed to come down and
play with me here ... I'm glad
they did," Wilson said after the
trio won the Hawke's Bay Lawn
Tennis Club's Autumn Triples.
They beat a Wellington trio of
Sebastien Merval, Michael Rocks
and Nikki Winnie 13 - 10 in the
final of the 22 team tournament,
which attracted players from
throughout the
North Island
despite the atrocious weather.
"They said if we won they would
come back again so it looks like
we'll be defending the title
next year," said Wilson.
Asked if this success had
inspired him to chase other
major tournaments around the
country
Wilson replied:
"I've only been playing for
three years and this is my first
open title. After watching
Georgio all weekend I discovered
I've got a lot of weaknesses ...
but I was just happy to do my
bit and we won," Wilson said
before collecting a prize
package which included $300 cash
and bottles of wine.
The tournament proved an ideal
rehearsal for several Hawke's
Bay players who are in the
New Zealand
team for next month's Trans
Tasman fixture in Levin. They
are Sharon Cannon, Bethne Rouse
and Roberta Campbell, who will
be making her debut in the
national side.
A composite trio of
Wellington's Rex Hayes, Rotorua's Trevor Neilson and Aucklander Terry Lambert
which finished second in the
weekend's plate final are
members of the
New Zealand senior team for the
Trans Tasman fixture, which also
includes Rouse's mother Dawn
Gardner and Marie Fenton from
the Bay. Another Bay player,
Murray Porter, is a reserve for
the New Zealand team.
Gardner and fellow Bay players
Phillipa McNiven and David
Bosley beat Hayes and co 13 - 9
in their Plate final.
The Bowl final saw Rouse,
Campbell and Auckland's Laurel
Priestley score a convincing 13
- 0 win over a Hawke's Bay trio
of Melville Ellis, Maurice
Malone and Daphne Shaw.
Hawkes Bay Today, 1.5.06,
Shane Hurndell
South Island Doubles
The Caversham Petanque Club,
Dunedin
hosts the South Island Doubles
each year at Queens Birthday
weekend.
The weather on Saturday 3rd and
Sunday 4th June this year was
hardly what one would call
tropical. Rain, wind and
freezing cold conditions
prevailed, (Real thermals, hat,
gloves, jackets and gumboot
weather). However it did not
deter the brave South Islanders,
who drew their circle, threw the
cochonnet and put their boules
out in the hope of becoming the
South Island Doubles Champion.
First round competition was keen
with all games played in a good
competitive spirit with some
surprising results. The
championship round on Sunday
presented more surprises with
some of the more favoured teams
being narrowly defeated.
The final was play in atrocious
weather conditions, with wind,
rain and bitter cold
temperatures between Mark
Choveaux/Robbie Sihamu
(Caversham) and Pat and Reed
Jamieson (Christchurch). Play
was of a high standard with
Robbie doing all that was asked
of him and more. Reed and Pat
fought on bravely but were
finally defeated 13 - 10.
Pat Jamieson
South Island Winter Challenge
Since 1998 a Winter Challenge
has been played at Caversham by
teams of four representing the
various South Island clubs.
Monday 5th June this year
presented snow, cold winds and
yes for a short while, sunshine.
The weather this year meant that
the bulk of players wanted to
head home before they had to
face a forced snow bound holiday
in Dunedin.
The hardy ones Hagley
(Christchurch), Timaru,
Cavensham and Ascot
(Christchurch) took to the piste
with the Hagley team of Reed and
Pat Jamieson, Robert Cumming and
Jared Hanford going through the
day undefeated to take the
challenge trophy north to
Christchurch.
This weekend is always hugely
enjoyed by all participants, the
Southerners are fabulous hosts
and the welcome is always warm,
although we can not say the same
for their weather.
On Saturday night they put on a
fabulous spit roast, with roast
vegies and salads followed by
dessert. Those present
entertained themselves by
putting on club skits and
telling jokes, all good clean
fun.
A weekend that is looked forward
to every year.
Pat Jamieson
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