A Page from the Diary

A Page from the Diary

WORLD CUP PLAYER DIARY – ENTRY # 2

Men’s Open

(15-16 January 2007)

We had a very relaxing day on Monday 15th January doing a sightseeing day around Stellenbosch and Capetown to put a calm edge to our preparations for the World Cup.

All the boys are feeling pretty relaxed, yet focused and we are looking foward like the rest of the Aussie Teams to getting out there and doing what we do best.

On Tuesday at the Aussie Team Breakfast our Captain Gavin Shuker was given the honour to carry the National Team banner alongside Flag bearers Amanda Judd and Dean Russell.

‘Shukes’ has done plenty for the game over the years and all the boys are stoked for him and you couldn’t get a more worthy guy for the job.

Seeing the World Cup at breakfast made a lot of us realize just how much it means to us to be the best in the World and personally I can’t wait for the Opening ceremony then the first games – just good to get them out of the way and get down to what we came here to do.

My next diary entry is due in a few days, by then we would have played our opening two games against Scotland and Wales.

We’ll be looking to build a solid platform to springboard our campaign, so fingers crossed it all goes to plan.

By the time you are all reading this it’ll be Thursday and Matty Curran has paid me off to send a “Happy Wedding Anniversary” to his wife Maree – just to prove he didn’t forget.

So Maree, from Matty, and the rest of the boys, all the best and thanks for being 9000 kms away so that we have to put up with him instead of you – and no, you’re not getting flowers Matty, my work here is done!!!

Sorry it’s so short but we have a big day tomorrow – will write more next time.

Good luck to all the Aussie Teams.

Ben Robinson

(Australian Men’s Open Representative 2007)

Women’s Open

15-16 January 2007

Monday was a day for the Women’s team to take in some of the sights of Cape Town. We took the cable car all the way to the top of Table Mountain (1086 metres high – scary) or as Coach Kez refers to it, Table Top Mountain.

I think our guide Rainer had us confused with the Australian Hiking Team as we spent a couple of hours checking out the ‘flora and forna’ of the mountain. It led to most of us suffering from what we now term TTMF (Table Top Mountain Fatigue)

The view though from the top was amazing and it was worth waiting for the clouds to clear and hear Woodzy and KJ (Kristy Judd) “View!” and see our elderly guide out sprint everyone to the best vantage point.

We may have had the day off from training, but our energizer bunny Woodzy organized a game of Dodge ball for us with our coaches Kez and Dean watching on nervously.

I think Teena Mac may still have a ball lodged in the side of her throat – “If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.” Rach Holden was the star of the show and impressed all with her talent on the mean streets of Dodge ball…maybe she can try out for the South African Team, as it doesn’t look like she’ll be coming home any time soon, having lost her passport on the way over here!!!

Tuesday Morning was the official Australian Team Breakfast, and I don’t think there could have been a prouder team than ours with our Assistant Coach Dean and 4 time World Cup player AJ (Amanda Judd) announced as the Flag bearers.

Believe it or not, Dean was speechless and AJ was able to put aside the nerves and tell the gathering what the honour meant to her. To tell you the truth I can’t actually remember what she said as I was trying to stop the tears from flowing myself.

Congrats to them both, although I am concerned with the entire Aussie team following ‘AJ’ …her sense of direction is not great.

We trained really well this morning and it feels like we are ready to go. The girls are to the point where they just want the games to start and to get out onto the field…although this could prove to be problematic for one member of our team, who forgot to pack her’green’ playing strip.

We have been issued with a ‘green’ and a ‘gold’ strip, and the whole team will be wearing the gold colours until Mrs. Maher arrives with the missing kit tomorrow afternoon.

Who is this mystery player you ask? Well I don’t want to give it away but I will give you a hint, there is someone in this team who looks very much like her carrying the Aussie flag tomorrow!

It’s game on tomorrow against firstly Wales, then Scotland and the girls are excited to be wearing the green and gold.

Melissa Pitfield

(Australian Women’s Open Vice Captain 2007)

Mixed Open

15-16 January 2007

The next installment of our excellent World Cup adventure saw us tour the world-renowned Table Mountain in nearby Capetown.

Our Tour guide Rainer (quickly nicknamed Judge Judy) took us to the top of the mountain – which from the ground looked like a very steep cable stretching all the way to heaven.

A swift moving cable cart ride got us to the top and we roamed around the mountain in a sort of elevated playground with a lot of dare devil dudes posing for photographs on the pretty scary angles.

Our Sunny Coast Mixed players Hayley “Haylo” Rogerson and Benny Roberts ‘King of the World’ Leo and Kate pose was a highlight – but the best was when a group of us hung our heads over a 1000 metre drop – full marks to Peta Rogerson from the Women’s Open for completing this maneuver, considering her aversion to anything scarier than a merry go round. You go Peta!

We then arrived home for an impromptu game of cricket. The express pace combo of super wingers Selene Thornton and Steph Sorrensen hurried up a few batsmen and if Ricky Ponting is worried about replacing Mc Grath, then these two power houses will fill the bill nicely.

Up stepped the master blaster, Mixed Open Coach Gary Madders who showed his prowess with a controlled knock of 116 not out.

His bowling figures however proved he was a very good wicketkeeper.

Some lively fielding from supercoach Karley “Jonty” Banks also underlined that our team’s sporting skills stretched a lot further than the Touch field.

Tuesday dawned, and it became apparent to us that it was time to knuckle down and focus on the task at hand – winning the World Cup. We forfeited a pre- arranged tour to put in two solid sessions and round out our preparations as well as possible in readiness for Wednesday’s start.

Our morning session was really sharp and Gaz and Karls were really pleased with our efforts and it was nice to ‘smash’ a session the way we did.

After a pool recovery we played “Courage” a game well known to most boys.

Basically you aren’t aloud to flinch when a ball is thrown at your body.

Let’s just say Andrew “Badge” Baggio wore his scars well and won the admiration of the crowd for his bravery in taking a few knocks around some precious parts of his body!

In other inside news, a few of our Mixed girls hijacked a golf buggy at the hotel, Hayley Rogerson, who really does ‘hate’ a photo opportunity, is believed to be the ring leader with her roomies Steph and Selene suspected of cooperating in the hi-jinx.

After training we unwound with a team dinner at the “La Romantica” restaurant.

The food was brilliant and as cheap as chips and a good way to round out a long day.

Steve “Where’s Wally” Roberts managed to get in the background of many photographs throughout the night, a skill he has perfected to a fine and annoying art.

Our focus now turns to the reason we are here.

It’s no secret we have done the work to put ourselves in the best possible position to win the World Cup. Tomorrow it all begins, the first step in the final chapter of our Journey. Australian Open Mixed v Switzerland…1.50pm bring it on!

Matthew “the puppeteer” Tope

(Australian Mixed Open representative 2007)