10 Jul 2019

Sport: New Caledonia extends medals lead at Pacific Games

9:17 am on 10 July 2019

New Caledonia have extended their lead atop the Pacific Games medal table after two days of competition in Apia.

The French Territory won gold medals in Va'a, archery, and swimming to take their tally to eight gold and 21 medals in all.

New Caledonia kick started the day by winning the men's V12 500m Va'a race at Mulifanua.

Archers Laurent Clerte and Cecille Rouillard were on target in the men's and women's compound bow events while the territory also made a splash in the pool, winning the men's and women's 4x100m relays, while Maiana Flament earned gold in the women's 800m freestyle and May Toven the women's 50m butterfly.

Va'a teams line up

Va'a teams line up Photo: Pacific Games News Service - Ben Bowles

Tahiti remains second overall with four gold medals after winning the women's V12 500m, while Nicolas Vermorel touched home first in the men's 50m butterfly and Poerani Bertrand in the women's 200m breaststroke.

New Caledonia's Charlotte Robin wins her third women’s open water title at the Pacific Games in Samoa.

New Caledonia's Charlotte Robin wins her third women’s open water title at the Pacific Games in Samoa. Photo: Vinnie Wyle

Archer Robert Elder won Fiji's first gold medal of the Games in the men's recurve bow, quickly followed by Taichi Vakasama in the men's 200m breaststroke, while both the men and women won beat Papua New Guinea to earn gold medals in the rugby league nines.

Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Nauru and Kiribati all collected three gold medals on Tuesday.

PNG's Dika Toua completed a clean sweep in the women's 49kg weightlifting division, just a few hour after younger sister Konio Toua had won three silvers behind Kiribati's Tebora Willy in the 45kg event.

Kiribati's Tebora Willy won three gold medals in the women's 45kg division.

Kiribati's Tebora Willy won three gold medals in the women's 45kg division. Photo: Vinnie Wylie

Solomon Islands lifter Mary Lifu collected the set in the women's 55kg division, as did Nauru's Elson Brechtefeld in the men's event.

Samoa's Brandon Schuster and Lauren Sale ensured a golden night for host nation Samoa in the pool, winning the men's and women's 200m backstroke finals.

Meanwhile Guam, Wallis and Futuna and the Cook Islands also won their first medals of 2019 in weightlifting, Va'a and rugby league nines respectively.

Golf tees off at the Royal Samoa Golf Course on Wednesday while more medals will be up for grabs in weightlifting, swimming, archery, Va'a, badminton, lawn bowls and table tennis.

Nauru weightlifter Elson Brechtefeld dominated the men's 55kg event.

Nauru weightlifter Elson Brechtefeld dominated the men's 55kg event. Photo: Vinnie Wylie