ARAFURA GAMES HISTORY

The Arafura Games began as the Arafura Sports Festival in 1991 with 1,500 athletes competing in seven sports. From 1998, it was known as the Arafura Games and was held every two years.

The Arafura Games is a well-developed international multi-sport event that attracts participants from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, with the 2011 Games attracting 2,200 visiting athletes.

The Games fosters goodwill between sporting neighbours and shared sporting and cultural knowledge within the Asia-Pacific region. Significantly, the Arafura Games also provids the Northern Territory sporting organisations with the opportunity to develop facilities, coaches, officials as well as athletes.

After an eight year hiatus, the Northern Territory Government has brought back the Games which presents opportunities to showcase the Australian Northern Territory unique arts, culture, history and trade and investment links.

The Arafura Games 2019 will feature 17 sport disciplines, including, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Basketball 3X3 Pro Hustle, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Football, Indoor Volleyball, Muaythai, Netball, Sailing, Sepak Takraw, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis and Weightlifting,

BOXING NEW ZEALAND PARTICIPATION AT THE ARAFUR GAMES

New Zealand boxers first participated in the Arufura Games 1997 and there has been representation at each Games since - except 2003 when the Games were cancelled because of the SAR outbreak.

1997

Four New Zealand boxers contested the 1997 Arufura Games Boxing Finals, with the medal haul being two Gold and two Silver. The Gold Medals were won by two of the finest Kiwi pugilists of the modern era

Heavyweight Garth da Silva, numbered Gold medals at the Mayors Cup (Philippines) and the Presidents Cup (Indonesia) along with Bronze at the Liverpool Cup and Ali Cup, amongst his international achievements.

Auckland Super Heavyweight Faii Falamoe, won Gold medals at the prestigious (Muhammad) Ali Cup and Presidents Cup, which sit alongside Oceania and Arafura Gold Medals won by the talented boxer.

The best performance of the decade was the 1997 Presidents Cup, with da Silva and Falamoe along with Regan Foley, contesting the Gold Medal contests. The New Zealand team finished the tournament in second place behind Uzbekistan and ahead of teams such as USA, Russia and Korea.

In the Arufura Finals, Garth proved too strong for Indonesian Retz Kakaria, with Faii defeating Jacobus Oberholler from South Africa. The two Silver Medal were picked up by David Baird in the Welterweight class, with Light Middleweight Emmett Gradwell also awarded Silver

New Zealand Results 1997

Welterweight – David Baird (Auckland) Silver (Final - lost to Meckson Barataman Indonesia)

Light Middleweight  – Emmett Gradwell (Auckland) Silver (Final - lost to Jeremy Allen WA)

Heavyweight – Garth da Silva (Christchurch) Gold (Final - defeated Reitz Jakaria Indonesia)

Super Heavyweight – Faii Falamoe (Auckland) Gold (Final – defeated Jacobus Oberholler South Africa)

1999

The 1999 Arufura Games, did not produce the success of the 1997 team. Just Jason Hepi made a final stanza, where he defeated Jamie Sammut from Western Australia to take home the sole Kiwi Gold Medal.

Bronze medals were presented Ramil Abubot and Lance Bryant.

New Zealand Results 1999

Lightweight – Ramil Abubot (Auckland) Bronze

Middleweight – Lance Bryant (Masterton) Bronze

Super Heavyweight - Jason Hepi (Christchurch) Gold (Final – defeated Jamie Sammut WA)

2001

Three Gold in 2001 was a good reward, with triple success coming in the Light Welterweight, Welterweight and Light Middleweight divisions.

Canterbury Light Welterweight Brad Milner, who had won the Light Welter National title in Christchurch the previous year, was the first Kiwi to have a gold medallion placed around his neck, when he defeated an Indonesian opponent.

Daniel Codling who annexed the 2000 and 2001 National Welter crowns, won Gold, one bout after Milner’s success. He defeated a real warhorse beating New South Wales Goran Pivac in the final stanza. Daniel went on to win a Bronze Medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Kahukura Bentson who had seemed to have been around forever, added to his considerable International success - winning the third Kiwi Gold Medal when he beat Joko Suryoni from Indonesia.

The second New Zealand Welterweight also had success, with Julian Scully returning home with Bronze.

New Zealand Results 2001

Light Welterweight – Brad Milner (Christchurch) Gold (Final - defeated S Binlay Indonesia)

Welterweight – Daniel Codling (Auckland) Gold (Final – defeated Goran Pavic NSW)

Light Middleweight – Kahukura Bentson (Auckland) Gold (Final – defeated Joko Suryono Indonesia)

Light Middleweight - Julian Scully (Christchurch) Bronze

2003

The 2003 Arufura Games never took place, being cancelled a few weeks out, because of the SAR epidemic that swept the world.

2005

In 2005 New Zealand sent a number of women boxers to the Arufura Games for the first time.

Super heavyweight Greg Weenik didn’t show any ring rust after he waited for five days of competition to box in the last evenings Finals. In an extremely close contest the kiwi sneaked past Steven Rudic to grab a 25-22 points victory.

Eske Dost, was the most convincing of the three Kiwi winners, on the last night of competition. Facing Junita Ricardo from Queensland, the Hamilton boxer was always in control, and was awarded a twenty-two point points victory by the judges.

Dawn Chalmers, showed the benefit of boxing the Oceania champion in Christchurch the previous weekend, when see grabbed gold in the Arafura middleweight final. In another close contest Chalmers took a six-point decision from Nioni Rasmussi.

The heavyweight final was fought out by two New Zealand born boxers. Adam Forsyth, who started his pugilistic career in Whakatane, was too good for Lance Bryant. The West Australian boxer was world ranked and was the current Commonwealth champion. In 2001 Forsyth returned to New Zealand to box in the nationals where he was defeated by Shane Cameron. Three weeks later he returned across the Tasman to annex the Australian title.

Joe Blackbourn also struck an Australian champion in Gerard O’Mahoney. The Canberra resident who represented Australia at the Olympics, was too good for Blackbourn on the night.

Two further Silver Medals were also picked up by Mairehau Bentson and Alexis Pritchard.

New Zealand Results 2005

Super Heavyweight - Greg Weenik (Wellington) Gold (Final - defeated Steven Rudic (ACT)

Welterweight - Joe Blackbourn (Hutt Valley) Silver (Final - lost Gerard O’Mahoney (ACT)    

Heavyweight - Lance Bryant (Masterton) Silver (Final lost Adam Forsyth (WA)          

Female

Welterweight - Eske Dost (Hamilton) Gold (Final defeated Junita Ricardo (QLD)

Middleweight - Dawn Chalmers (Canterbury) Gold      (Final - defeated Nioni Rasmussi (WA)

Bantamweight - Mairehau Bentson (Manawatu) Silver (Lost to Sharon O’Connell (QLD)        

Lightweight - Alexis Pritchard (Auckland) Silver (Final - lost to Erin McGowan (WA)

2007

Christchurch Coach Phil Shatford seized the initiative, and entered two of his boxers under the colours of the South Island of New Zealand, in 2007. Coach Shatford was looking to give middleweight Deacon Henry and heavyweight Yamiko Chinula, the international experience to make a charge on the New Zealand ranking lists, later in the year.

On the first day of competition, Deacon Henry made his intentions clear from the opening bell. Facing Dale Sutton from the Northern Territory the South Islander quickly took charge, with the referee stopping the contest in the second round.

After going through all the pre fight preparation for the semi-finals, the efforts were in vain with Deacon awarded a walkover victory when his opponent failed to front.

On Finals night, first into the ring was Deacon who faced off against Tim Parker from South Australia for the Middleweight crown. At the end of four pulsating rounds the Kiwi boxer was awarded the contested by a margin of 42-22.

Further Gold Medal success followed for the New Zealand representatives, when Yamiko grabbed a 36-28 decision from Mostyn Nieman.

New Zealand Results 2007

Middleweight – Deacon Henry (Christchurch) Gold (Final – defeated Tim Parker SA)

Heavyweight – Yamiko Chinula (Christchurch) Gold (Final – defeated Mostyn Nieman)

2009

Light Heavyweight – Kyle Mereweather (Waikato)

2011

The New Zealand Boxing team returned home from the 2011 Arufura Games with a record tally of Gold Medals.

The four Gold Medals won by the Kiwi boxers, surpasses the performances of the 1997 and 2005 teams in Darwin, where three gold medals apiece were won.

Young Kiwi Super Heavyweight Joseph Parker, continued to show that he is a world-class boxer, stopping both opponents that he met in the Darwin ring. In the Final he had little trouble with Emile Gineate from French Polynesia, with the referee ending the contest in the first round.

The Middleweight division was an all New Zealand affair, with Joe Blackbourn and Nick Charalpampous making the final, after defeating Australian opponents in the semi-finals. Blackbourn, who is a multiple New Zealand National champion took out the bout on points from his game Kiwi opponent, winning 31-19.

Light Heavyweight Sam Rapira, who had caused the upset of the tournament in defeating the Commonwealth champion on his way to the final stanza, faced an Australian International for the Gold Medal. While Rapira put up a brave performance, Damien Hooper who was representing Queensland, was given a 21-9 points decision.

Hugely experienced women’s Lightweight Alexis Pritchard, added to her gold medal collection, with victory against Indian boxer Meena Rani by way of disqualification in round three.

Deana Stephenson, showed that the future of New Zealand women’s boxing is in good hands, when she won her first International Gold Medal. Facing Nancy Bifera in the Welterweight class, Deana worked hard to secure an 8-4 points win.

While the two New Zealand Light Flyweight and Flyweight women’s boxers, finished on the wrong end of the judge’s decisions, they were both right in their fights to the end.

Light Flyweight Siona Fernandez lost to Indian boxer Pinki Jangra 18-13, with Lloyds Scully also right in her bout before losing a relatively narrow 15-10 decision.

New Zealand Results 2011

Men

Super Heavyweight - Joseph Parker (Auckland) Gold (defeated Emile Gineate (French Polynesia) RSC R1)

Middleweight - Joe Blackbourn (Hutt Valley) Gold (defeated Nick Charalpampous (Auckland) 31-19

Light Heavyweight: - Sam Rapira (Taranaki) Silver (lost to Damien Hooper (Queensland) 21-9

Women

Welterweight - Deana Stevenson (Auckland) Gold (defeated Nancy Bifera (NT) 8-4)

Lightweight - Alexis Pritchard (Auckland) Gold defeated Meena Rani (India) Disqualification)

Flyweight - Lloyds Scully (Christchurch) Silver (lost to Selena McPhee (WA) 15-10)

Light Flyweight: Siona Fernandez (Christchurch) Silver (lost to Pinki Jangra (India) 18-13)

Article added: Friday 12 April 2019