The Omaha Club

Under the direction of Mr. Lachaud, a physical education teacher, and his wife, Club Omaha offered activities to children every day. Mornings were devoted to physical education, sports and swimming; afternoons, games and competitions.

That year, the children had a swimming pool supplied with seawater, whose newspaper indicated a temperature between 20 and 21 degrees. The photograph accompanying the brief showed them during a swimming session.

Vierville-sur-Mer hosted the tour of the beaches of West France on a Tuesday. Showers disrupted the first games, including France Lait, in which only three tandems participated. An adult had to carry a child on his back for a hundred meters, then compose a puzzle. The rewards included 900 and 300 gram boxes of Régilait. The newspaper gave Benjenni–Huguen among the winning adults and Jannie Huguen as well as Bruno Benjenni among the children.

The drawing competition asked to represent a caricature of Louis de Funès according to Len. The first ten were, in order: Jean-Luc Achte, Catherine Verney, Éric Defortescu, Brigitte Coupe, Pascale Audierne, Philippe Racine, François Verney, Patrick Lesprat, Odile Choux and Yves Laurent. The other competitors were ranked ex æquo.

Six motorists then played a game consisting of inflating a balloon until it burst, to win a Ceoflex emergency inflator. Mrs. Gaudel, from Nancy, won.

After the distribution of the prizes, a new appointment was announced for Thursday, August 4. The report thanked Mr. Legallois for his help.

From 2:30 p.m., the children showed up at the Ouest-France radio car, equipped with the newspaper of the day, to receive the material from the drawing competition. They started at 3 p.m. on the theme of the speaker car and handed in their work an hour later. The distribution of the prizes took place at 5:30 p.m. in front of the custodian Mr. Le Gallois, after the classification of Ms. Basser Jhislaïle and Mr. Maurice Aubin, members of the jury.

The winners of the seven-nine years list, in this order: François Élie, Marc Morhain, Philippe Lemarrois, Daniel Bonnier, Martine Bonnier, Jean-Philippe Oxéant, Bruno Bendjenni, Sylvia Quoirez, Patricia Callico, Agnès Mahieu, Patrick Lacost, Catherine Gosselin, Sylviana Callico, Marc Mathé, Philippe Etsans, Jean-Pierre Bourseix and Christian Mathé. The end of this last name in the list remains uncertain.

For fourteen years, the list gives: François Gosselin, Marc Rosselot, Patricia Mathé, Jean-Marie Oxéant, Chantal Meunier, Dominique Lorgeoux, Suzanne Entringer, Pascale Chevauchée, Nadine Lorgeoux, Jean-François Oxéant, Catherine Taverne, Claude Lunel, Jean-Jacques Sibon, Catherine Dupont, Martine Phelan and Bruno Laurent.

The association of Friends of the Beach of Vierville-sur-Mer had organized, on a Sunday in the early afternoon, a folkloric presentation with the help of the Gay-Sçavoir of Bayeux. Many spectators witnessed the regional songs and dances of this troupe in period costumes, before it left for a tour in Great Britain.

The newspaper considered the presentation successful, while regretting that it did not benefit from a more spectacular setting. The second part of the party took place on the beach: the Vaumicel Equestrian Club, under the leadership of Mr. de Bughas, offered equestrian activities. The demonstrations and games hosted by the club's youth were a great success.

One Sunday, summer visitors took a seat at the Vierville blockhouse to attend a party. On the land side, the Gay-Sçavoir gave a folk show; on the sea side, the Vaumicel equestrian club offered equestrian demonstrations appreciated by the public.

The cut recalled the murderous role of the cannon of this blockhouse on the morning of D-Day. She described the work as classified and announced that the American army should erect a memorial there. This remnant of war then also served as a dominant point to follow the afternoon shows.

On a sunny Sunday, the Omaha club organized a sports competition for under fifteen on Vierville beach. Under the guidance of Mr. Bouljoux, instructor of the season, the children competed in races, jumps, climbing and swimming events. The frog's jump was among the games. All participants were rewarded.

Up to six years, the ranking gave Pascal Laury, Nicole Racine and Patricia Larcheron. Among the six-ten years old, Valérie, whose name is not very legible on the denomination, preceded Maud Ledinot and Francis Ledinot. Among the ten-fourteen years old were Sylvie Mathieu, Philippe Racine and Sabine, whose name also remains uncertain.

The photograph shows the children of Club Omaha with their monitor, Mr. Bouijoux, on the beach of Vierville-sur-Mer. In the background is the boat used for their sea walks.

Fifty children participated in the Vierville-sur-Mer sand castle competition, with shovels, rakes and sometimes trowels. All received a reward.

In the first category, Élisabeth Moulard preceded Nadine Baron and Nicole Racine. In the second, Thierry Lequier finished ahead of Patrick Deschartres and Christine Moulard. The third category was won by Catherine Gosselin, followed by Jean-Philippe Oxéant and Évelyne Baron.

A separate notice announced the parking of the ACO's mobile security center on Place de la Poste, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., on the day mentioned by the newspaper.

One Saturday afternoon, fifty children from Vierville Beach and the Omaha Beach club participated in the great drawing competition of Le Figaro on the theme of the squirrel. Everyone received a box of colored pellets and a brush that he could keep. Everyone left with a reward.

Among six-eight year olds, the published ranking begins with Ch. Gaudel, N. Morasin and P. Hardelay. Among the nine-eleven year olds, N. Root ahead of K. Steketee and L. Duchatel. For the twelve-fourteen years, E. Austroy precedes Mr. Racine and J. Ozanne The cut does not reproduce the complete rankings.

One Friday, at bath time and rest on the beach, the holidaymakers of Vierville saw a Norman wed on the pier. The procession, accompanied by about fifty guests, aroused the interest and applause of the spectators.

It was a folkloric animation played by children: the very young age of the "spouses" excluded any real commitment to the town hall. Mr. Bonloux, head of the Omaha Club and master of ceremonies, had ensured the organization of the parade and planned rewards on the return of the wedding march. The party thus left a memory for the little Parisians who had participated.

A first report brings together a hundred children around the theme of the house of their dreams. Messrs. Legallois and Bouljoux had prepared the competition.

Among the six-eight years old, Émile Briones was ahead of Pascal Gondolf, Hugues Matthieu and Nicolas, whose last name is difficult to read. Among the nine-eleven year olds, the first four places went to Évelyne Baron, Luc Sechet, Catherine Lacoste and Catherine Gosselin. Among the twelve–fourteen years old, Thierry Matthieu preceded Jean-Philippe Oxéant, Marie-Laure de Guser and François Gosselin. The program also announced swimming licenses at 3 p.m. for Vierville and Saint-Laurent, then, the next day at 3 p.m., a sand contest on sea animals.

A second cut, mounted below the first, reports another contest organized on a Thursday afternoon by Le Figaro with Mr. Legallois. He had gathered 98 children. Michelle Racine had won the category of children born before 1959; Sophie Guilbert, that of births from 1966 to 1968; Évelyne Bunouf, that of 1963 to 1965; Nadine Baron, that of 1960 to 1962. Each had won a swimsuit and a kite.

This montage brings together two articles on the summer activities of Vierville. The first announces the reopening of the Omaha Beach club led by Mr. and Mrs. Labarrière. About twenty children were welcomed every day from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with swimming, games, sports and beach competitions. Once a week, a competition was open to all summer visitors; the next one was scheduled for Thursday, July 18. A humorous hike for adults in the region was to start on Saturday, July 20 at 2 p.m., with information at Mr. Legallois.

The second article notes a disappointing tourist attendance during the first half of July, then a filling after the 14th. The Friends of the Beach announced a rally-walk on Saturday 19, with departure and registration until 2:30 p.m. at Mr. Legallois: ten francs per car, five francs per passenger, surprise picnic included.

The Vaumicel equestrian club was preparing a day of dressage and a competition for Sunday 20. Directed by Hubert de Bellaigue de Bughas, he made about fifteen horses available. Beginners worked at the carousel before going for a walk after twenty hours of practice; the confirmed riders had cross and obstacles. The announced rates were twenty francs per hour, including insurance, one hundred and sixty francs for ten hours and three hundred francs for twenty hours; the annual subscription for schoolchildren and students cost one hundred and twenty francs.

A sailing school on Optimist operated daily at the Omaha Beach nautical club, with sessions from July 17 to 30 and then in August. The children's club, led by Messrs. Nedelec and Labarrière with two instructors, received the three-eleven year olds every day except Sunday, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Games and contests were organized every day and swimming lessons were offered in an indoor pool.

On the beach of Vierville, the Omaha club welcomed the children to allow them to entertain themselves. Georges Labarrière was the direction and animation during July. He indicated that he received between twenty and thirty children aged three to twelve every day and was looking for a variety of activities that would promote both their fun and their development.

A competition trampoline had been installed next to a smaller model. The club also had a cable car, a slide, a gantry with rope, rings and trapeze, a chicken coop, swings, balls and outdoor games.

A covered room equipped with a foosball table and other games allowed shelter in rainy weather. During the report, it was mainly used to protect oneself from too much heat and to read while waiting for swimming. Swimming lessons were offered at times adapted to the tides.

Daily competitions, supported by various companies, took the form of large collective games. The spirit of competition had its place, but relaxation and occupation of children remained a priority. Every week, a large beach contest offered sand castles, races or kites. The official insisted on constant monitoring. Albert Nédélec was to succeed Georges Labarrière for the month of August.

The montage also includes a second photograph entitled "At the Club of Omaha, the joy of young people". His legend evokes Mr. Bouljoux, a physical education teacher, and a playpen for children, with competitions on the beach every Sunday and another day of the week.

Led by Messrs. Labarrière and Nédelec, the Omaha club welcomed children every day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the two months of vacation. Beach games and sporting events punctuated their days.

Young people could learn to swim in an indoor pool or pass swimming certificates at sea. The trampoline gave rise to kangaroo diplomas, compared in the article to swimming newts, as part of the club's affiliation with the federation of this discipline.

Every week, the club also opened its doors to all the children of the beach of Vierville for a sand competition.

The French Federation of Trampoline Sports, created in May 1965 and then had more than two thousand licensees, organized a summer tour on the beaches. Little practiced in the region and without local competition, the discipline had nevertheless offered France two world titles with Richard Tison in 1974 in South Africa and in 1976 in the United States.

In Calvados, only the Omaha club of Vierville-sur-Mer, led by Mr. Labarrière, had responded to the demonstration offer. One Monday afternoon, the children and summer visitors admired Jean-Michel and Véronique Bataillon, champions of France, then some were introduced to the practice. The best received Kangaroo tests, comparable to swimming newts and ski stars.

The couple, aged twenty-two each, had to carry out twenty-three demonstrations during the two months of vacation on the coasts of the English Channel and the Atlantic. Jean-Michel, junior world champion in 1970, had been five-time French champion and fifth at the 1977 European Championship. Véronique, a debutante in 1970, had also won five national titles and the seventh European place in 1977.

Jean-Michel came from athletics and Véronique from gymnastics. Their joint physical education teacher, Michel Roquette, who became a national coach, had led them to the trampoline. They trained more than ten hours a week, with jogging for the heart rate and swimming for the back muscles. The height of the jumps varied according to the figure, up to seven meters for the candle.

The article presented this sport as demanding reflexes, speed, balance, musculature and body awareness, with strict safety rules to be respected by the monitor. He indicated a possible start around the age of ten and quoted Mr. Barthe, capable at eighty-three years of performing a grouped back jump. The Federation planned to renew the tour the following year on a larger scale, with a reinforced demonstration team.

One Thursday afternoon, Christian Musset, coach of the France-Espoir team, and Jean-Michel Bataillon, five-time French champion and European champion in 1974, gave a trampoline demonstration to the Omaha club, in front of the summer visitors.

The newspaper presented Omaha as the only club in Normandy to offer this activity every year. After the demonstration of the two champions, about twenty children from the club, aged three to twelve and led by Messrs. Labarrière and Caron, passed the "Kangaroo" test.

The article stressed that the trampoline remained little known despite its five thousand licensees in France. He also mentioned the wife of Jean-Michel Bataillon, then in preparation for the world championships, presented as European champion and seventh in the last world championships in all categories.

The Omaha club offered introductory and advanced trampoline sessions on Vierville beach. One Friday, about fifteen children took tests to measure their progress and receive kangaroos: blue for beginners, white for the most advanced and red for budding champions.

Jean-Michel Bataillon, five-time French champion and European champion in 1974, hosted this meeting with Christian Musset, coach of the French espoir team. The children, aged three to twelve, satisfied their monitors with their results.

Georges Labarrière, a gymnastics teacher, and Bruno Caron, a student, both Parisians, supervised the club as chef and sous-chef. Trampoline and swimming activities were to continue until the end of August, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The newspaper presented Omaha as the only Norman club organizing a demonstration with champions every year and indicated that the trampoline then had more than 5,000 licensees in France.