Petanque: (Almost) beating them at their own game

By LINDSAY KNIGHT

For most New Zealanders the Swiss city of Geneva has become a sporting focus because it has displaced Auckland as the new home of yachting's America's Cup.

But for another group of New Zealanders, and at the opposite end of the sporting spectrum, Geneva will also be a preoccupation ... when the world petanque championships are held there in September.

And if the experts in what ranks among New Zealand's fastest growing sports can be believed, the country's representatives, Aucklanders Seti Mailei, Seti's 19-year-old son Andrew and Georgio Vakauta, have a competitive chance of a top finish.

The three Kiwis with Pacific Island origins are in earnest training, several nights a week, having made rapid international progress in the past year or so.

Cam Calder, the enthusiastic driving force behind petanque as a national sports body, points out that last year the trio finished 17th in the world championships in Grenoble.

"But to put that in better perspective," says Calder, "you have to take into account how close they were.

"They were just beaten by two points by Morocco who then went on to finish second.

"These three guys are getting close to world class. I don't want to put any pressure on them but there's every possibility that sooner or later New Zealand will have a podium finish at an international event."

Calder, with Christian Fouquet and Mick Sharpe, were New Zealand's first entry in the world championships, competing in 1995 and gaining just two wins over Norway and Japan to finish a lowly 36th.

"But these guys are light years ahead of us," he says.

Seti Mailei, 46 and who arrived in New Zealand to work as a printer 25 years ago, took up petanque by accident in 1997 when he drove a friend to a Tahitian petanque tournament and was dragged in to fill out the teams.

Both his son and daughter Leilani, 17, are now involved in the sport. Such is the keenness of Andrew that to concentrate on his petanque and accommodate his teacher training studies he has given rugby away, for this year at least.

Vakauta, 30, a pharmaceuticals salesman, came to New Zealand eight years ago and as one who grew up under French influences is more steeped in petanque, which is a French or Mediterranean variant of bowls usually played on beaches.

"I started playing when I was six years old and went to a French school," he says.

Like Calder, he is optimistic about the sides chances in Geneva.

"We can go better this year. The secret is to be accurate and positive and to be relaxed."