Oceania Defence 2006 letter to PNZ (27 September 2006).

 

Reply from PNZ

Why I believe we should have defended our title.

 

06/11/06

I find PNZ's response to the original letter from the Wellington clubs disappointing. This letter of explanation by PNZ has been accepted by eight of the Wellington clubs without question. This page is an attempt by me to question some of the logic.

 

Here goes:

 

From all accounts this FFPJP sanctioned international event, which took place right on our doorstep, has been an outstanding success. Admittedly, it may have received partial support from AP, and AP are possibly pulling out of Oceania.

 

Fronting up to defend your title is part of our very ethos. It is important from a sporting point of view to enter this competition. It also allows other countries to take the title off us. This is possibly the most important aspect and a mark of respect to others. By simply staying home and not putting up a defence we deny the other parties their right to win it from the title holders.

 

If we have a truly sporting attitude we would turn up with whatever team we can put together. Please note that it is allowed under the rules to send a three member team. This allows for Singles, Doubles and Triples. This has been done in the past by NZ and other nations such as Wallis et Futuna ( winning a silver medal).

 

All this makes a complete mockery of availability issues put forward by PNZ. As far as I know there were 4 women and 5 men who put their names forward for the all important defence of our New Zealand Oceania title. Most fair-minded people would rather turn up and lose our title instead of just not turning up.

 

Other barriers that have been put up by PNZ are also poor. It is for instance rather ironic that PNZ after braking almost every rule in the book over the last eight months or so, are now saying (using a questionnaire which received only 20 replies from an estimated 1400 members).

This sudden desire by PNZ to play by the rules is great, but could we not have broken just one more rule in order to defend our title?

 

PNZ also raised the status of the tournament and the $1500 needed by each NZ player as further barriers.

 

Another line that is unfortunate is this one:

This to me is quite incomprehensible. Surely it is always better to front up and put up a defence. We also have an international reputation to consider. We should be promoting our game and give our players an opportunity to gain international experience. This obsessive preoccupation with winning at all cost is stifling our sport, hinders long-term development and didn't work in Singapore.

 

Thank you to Australia for keeping Oceania alive.

 

-Tom.

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See also Oceania Petanque

 

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