As a consequence of the change in timing of the Annual General Meeting for 2004, this report covers a slightly shorter period than usual. However, that doesn't seem to have had any impact on the length of this report!
There are several individuals I would like to thank for their work on behalf of the Association.
Louise Sligo has been the Association's Secretary for the past two years. The position of Secretary in any organisation is not usually the most glamorous and yet it the one position around which the organisation revolves and Louise is an efficient, communicative and reliable Secretary. I am extremely relieved to learn that she is prepared to stand again. Thank you Louise.
Anyone who has tried to ring Brian Smith at home and heard Marie's rather resigned words on the answer machine expecting any message to be about pétanque business, must wonder how he finds time for anything other than pétanque.
Not only does he hold the position of Treasurer and Tournament Co-ordinator for the Association, he is Treasurer of the Park Avenue club and the Tournament Controller and Treasurer of Pétanque New Zealand. His continued commitment to pétanque is invaluable. Thank you Brian, for agreeing to be available for the next year.
Finally I would like to thank Patrick Smith, who secured the Williams and Adams Suzuki sponsorship for the Wellington Open Triples. Finding, and keeping sponsors, is a difficult task at the best of times. Finding a sponsor for a minor sport, such as pétanque, is more difficult. With a newspaper policy of not naming principal sponsors creativity is necessary in order to provide something in return for our sponsors.
Congratulations to the players and clubs who have won the various championships and tournaments. Without the continued support and participation by players from throughout the region, there would be no tournaments.
The introduction of the Inter-club competition, although well-received, placed a strain on a number of clubs and the decision to play it in the summer next season should allow clubs to reclaim both their playing days and members over the winter.
The inaugural Williams and Adams Suzuki Wellington Open Triples was another new event to the playing calendar. Having held the inaugural event, we hope to now build on its success.
Women's Singles: Fran Beach (Upper Hutt)
Regional Singles: Dirk Winnie (Khandallah)
Regional Doubles: Gordon Dykes, Neil Dykes (Windy Hills)
Regional Triples: Michael Rocks, Brian Smith, Dirk Winnie (Khandallah)
Open Triples: Michael Rocks, Brian Smith, Dirk Winnie (Khandallah)
Champion of Champions - Singles: Tony Chin (Park Avenue)
Champion of Champions - Doubles: Oskar de Jong, Peter van Heusden (Khandallah)
Champion of Champions - Triples: Gordon Dykes, Neil Dykes, Dean Norman (Khandallah)
Winter League: Khandallah
Inter-club: Khandallah
As predicted by Brian in his report last year, Masterton still hold the trophy. Their current record of twenty-three consecutive successful defences, since November 2001, will probably never be bettered. Perhaps Levin, who are considering mounting their first challenge, can show us how to win.
The region had the year off from hosting national events. However, the change to PNZ's process for allocating events will result in the Wellington region hosting one event each year through to 2008. As an Association, we will need to work closely with the hosting club to ensure that this does not become a burden.
Congratulations to Sharon Cannon, Elizabeth Rocks and Roy Zeier who were runners-up in the National Triples. Margret Fleck, Doug Hay and Terry Lambert recorded a top eight finish. Roy Zeier, runner-up in the National Singles. Barbara Johnston recorded a top eight finish. Myles Cowper and Oskar de Jong, third in the National Doubles. Brian Smith and Dirk Winnie recorded a top eight finish.
Following the Winter League, Kath Alison (Kapiti), Kaye Alison (Kapiti), Fay Doyle (Kapiti), Tony Millar (Khandallah), Harl Stevens (Kapiti) and Peter van Heusden (Khandallah) were selected to compete in the annual Clash competition against Canterbury in Christchurch. Wellington triumphed in the Pétanque winning 19 points to 17, although the overall Clash competition was won by Canterbury.
A new event this year was the first inter-region match against Hawke's Bay. The teams were selected based on their performance in the inter-club competition.
The Wellington Gold team of Barbara Johnston (Masterton), Joan Miller (Masterton), Brian Smith (Khandallah), Peter van Heusden (Khandallah), Dirk Winnie (Khandallah), and Roy Zeier (Khandallah) defeated Hawke's Bay A by 25 points to 6.
The Wellington Black team of Claire Bradburn (Silverstream), Fay Doyle (Kapiti), Richard Lawson (Hataitai), Jan McHardy (Kapiti), Tony Packer (Silverstream), Maureen Wood (Hataitai) defeated Hawke's Bay B by 19 points to 12.
The inaugural trans-Tasman test match took place in Melbourne in May. The NZ team of Denise Bavidge, Sharon Cannon, Geoff Greer, Pam Jenkins, Michael Rocks and Aussie Samuel defeated Australia in a close match 40-32.
Plans are underway for a rematch in New Zealand this year and there may be a tie-in with the Clareville mid-winter tournament.
A coaching seminar for Club coaches was held during the year and the one thing it probably highlighted most is that there is a requirement for more. In last year's report Brian stated:
As part its proposed coaching structure PNZ recently sent three people, Bernadette Lawton, Ron Sandilands and Clive Bartleet to a coaching seminar in Australia. The results of this seminar will be seen this year with the development of a national and regional coaching structure. Once this is in place our regional coaching and training should move forward in a more structured format.
We have received some Coaching material from the PNZ. However, rather than waiting for a coaching structure to be provided, we could begin by creating a structure for ourselves. If need be, we can modify it later to fit any national framework.
Over the last eighteen months there has been some debate on how we could suitably mark the passing of players and/or administrators within the Wellington Region. I would like to thank former WPA President Dirk Winnie for his suggestion of a Memorial Day event.
I would also like to thank the Kapiti club for allowing the WPA to stage a Memorial Day Melee on their terrain.
Players remembered at the Memorial Day were:
Hataitai: Daphne Hendrie
Kapiti: Ken Doyle
Khandallah: Marj Sellars
Levin: Bert Budd, Jim Curtis
Masterton: Heather McNicholl, Ron Miller
Park Avenue: Dawn Stanley
Silverstream: Peter Berrill, Georgina Morta
There was some comment regarding the website at the last annual general meeting. Following Peter Ball's retirement and move to Napier, Margret Fleck has taken over management of the website and is giving the site a spring clean. Thank you Margret, for finding the time to spend on a very important means of communication.
Finally, I would like to invite anyone who is interested in the development of organised Pétanque in the region to put their name forward for positions as Club delegates, officers of the Association, or as coaches, umpires or tournament directors. Your club, your region and even your country, needs you.
Michael Rocks