Day 11, Last day of the Tournament
(Note, our
apologies, this is rushed and not quite finished, but as we are leaving at 7am
tomorrow and have to be on the bus in 5 mins, it’s probably it until we get to
LA tomorrow afternoon our time)
Actually to be honest, it’s still day 10,
and
Now it’s Day 11.
Ok, another morning in
Message from Kelly
Hello to everyone
back home. This is the last day of the tournament and we have mixed feelings of
both excitement and sadness that it will be over soon. Aden and Briana, we miss you very much and can’t wait to see you.
This trip has been so amazing. See you all soon.
Love Kelly &
Siobhan
And so, onto today’s competition
Second match of the day
Bex vrs
This is it, the final. The boys start Bex
off with the Haka to get her going. The match starts slow, Bex first points
with turning, then
Men’s team power
breaking
The team are lined up in front of the
boards, and the heights are set. Kane is up first with the punch. He lines up
and nails it! Then Josh with the knifehand, he also lines up and nails it too!
Then it’s Sam on the sidekick, Chris on the turning, and Johs on the reverse turning.
Sam lines up, and hits the boards too low, they don’t break. Chris bends the
boards on the turning, but they also fail to break all the way. Then Johs lines
up for the reverse, can he repeat yesterday’s break, he winds up and…the boards
refuse to break. The team are hugely disappointed, but it’s not over yet, one
more team to go, but it looks like the NZ team are out. We stop to watch
another final, the female heavies which is between Poland and Argentina, with
Argentina successful.
When we look back over, NZ is in a playoff
with Canada! Not sure what they are going for, maybe 2nd or 3rd.
The judges select the sidekick as the break-off. Canada is up first, their
competitor lines up and nails the kick. So this is it, whatever they are
playing for all comes down to Sam…no pressure! Sam lines up carefully, settles
himself, the pressure must be immense, and leaps at the boards. They fail to
move, the Canada crowd goes wild, and we are left wondering what it means for
the team…what did they get? 3rd? We just don’t know, they seem to be
commiserating each other, then Chris comes past the stand holding 2 fingers up.
What? He is all smiles, NZ has won silver!! They were in the play-off for 1st
and 2nd and we didn’t even know. Awesome guys, another silver.
Mark was telling me that the Argentineans
had asked him last night how come the NZ team is so good at specialty and
breaking.
Woman’s power
breaking
Argentina are first, they miss everything.
Then Honduras, they miss all three too. So far so good. Then the Canadians,
they are good at breaking, but only get the knifehand, which the Canadian girl
punches instead. Slovenia are next and the tension is starting to build for us
supporters. Slovenia make the sidekick only…Yes! Looking better, is this what
gold smells like?…Shushh, don’t jinx them!
Stop press…Bex has been taken to hospital,
she has apparently injured her calf in the sparring, she will be gutted to miss
the breaking and specialty.
Then it’s our turn. Candice is first for the
knifehand. She nails it! Then Jess sets up the side kick, she pauses a while to
steady herself, then launches at the boards, her foot appearing out the other
side and almost out the breaker machine. Such a beautiful break…and the
supporters go wild! This has to be gold for NZ, no other team has done better
so far and only the Poles are left, and they are not great at breaking. And
Alicia is still to come with the turning. She lines up, and nails it! Yes, a
clean sweep, we must have the gold! The NZ support crew go wild as well. Now
Poland step up, and the competitor lines up the knifehand, and breaks it. Can
they match us? No, wait, the judge has disallowed the break! Maybe for forearm
use, but who cares, NZ have Gold in the female team power breaking!
The Poles came into this tournament heavy
favourites, but they have been stopped well by the Argentineans mainly, who
have had an awesome tournament. Romania won the men’s heavyweight, beating the
Poles
While I think about it, can someone please
get in touch with Carl Matthews, and ask him to have the press at the airport
for the team, we may as well make the most of our medal tally.
Team female
specialty
Honduras are up first and miss all three,
Canada get the front, miss the turning, and get the side. Romania are up next
and they miss all three as well.
Then Jess and David are back on in ring 2
for their final go at the pre-arranged. Really there are only two teams in it,
with the Canadians and us. All 5 teams, Honduras, USA, Argentina, Canada, and
NZ line up. The judges confer for quite some time, who do they like more, The
acrobatic Canadians or the technical New Zealanders. And the winners
are…Canada. NZ takes another silver!
The specialty is still going, and NZ are up
next. Amy is first, and lines up the front kick. She leaps but mixes up her
footing and goes for a one leg kick and not scissor as required, realising her
mistake halfway through the jump, she just sails under the board, not kicking.
Good attempt Amy. Siobhan is next for turning, she too has to scissor. She lines
up, leaps, and makes a perfect break! Awesome, and with scissor kicking. The NZ
team go wild. Then Melissa, she lines up on the runway, Mike and Richard are
holding the board. It all comes down to this, no pressure! Melissa runs,
leaps…and makes a perfect break, putting NZ in the medals! Question is, which
one?
Poland are last, they get the front and the
turning, but miss the side as their competitor collects that tape on her way
through, jumping too late.
That puts NZ in a jump-off with Poland for 1st
! The judges select the turning kick and it all comes down to Siobhan. Again,
no pressure! She lines up, leaps, and just collects the bottom of the board, so
no points. Then the Pole lines up. She leaps, and hits the board full around.
But her foot is almost vertical, surely the judges will disallow it, they have
been pretty consistent. No! They allow it, Poland win the gold and NZ have
silver again.
By the way, the Hondurian injured is back at
the tournament in a neck brace, but he seems ok.
Men’s specialty
Canada are first, they get the turning but
nothing else. Their foot position is almost vertical though, they should have
been disallowed, but that’s tournaments for you I guess. It was exactly the
same kick as Siobhan’s, but this time they let it through, again all I can say
is that’s tournaments for you. NZ are next, with Kane starting on the front. He
lines up and misses, Shane is next, he gets the turning but his foot is also
vertical, and they allow it, go figure, not that we are complaining! Sam,
Chris, and David all miss their breaks, putting us in a precarious position
with only one break made. USA are next, they miss them all. Then England, they
get the turning, mid-air, and side. They also get the reverse, but it is
disallowed for foot position! They are in the lead so far. Then Poland step up,
they get the turning, Reverse turning, and the side. This puts them 1st
equal with England. Honduras are next and make just the flying side kick. This
puts England and Poland in a jump-off for first, and NZ, Honduras, and Canada
in a 3 way jump-off for Bronze.
England are first for reverse turning and
get it, so do Poland. Then the judges select the flying side, which England get
easily, Poland collect the tape on the way through, England are first.
Canada are first up for the Bronze jump-off,
the judges select the turning. Yes! Canada miss, putting all the pressure on
Shane. He has to scissor as well. He sets up, jumps…and Nails it! Yes, Honduras
didn’t even come close in the last round, surely this is bronze to NZ. Honduras
line up, leap, and miss! Another bronze to NZ!
Medal ceremony
Argentina are on the podium again, Master
Bos calls for the national anthem. But no, tape deck guy strikes again. Master
Bos says “I am going to cry”. He gets all the teams to clap. Then he tries to
introduce Tomaz Barada to
all the juniors, but tape deck guy is having none of it, he starts up with the
Argentinean national anthem…but no, it’s that blasted piano concerto again, not
sure which one! Then tape deck guy gets it right, and the Argentineans sing.
Alex collects Bex’s
medal for her, as she is still at the hospital.
Then Jess collects hers. Silence, tape deck
man has no anthem for Poland who are on the podium, so the Poles sing!
Candice collects her bronze and tape deck
guy gets the anthem right for the Argentineans, who also collect the next 4
gold medals in a row, they have had a blinder of a tournament. Master Marano is
now directing tape deck guy, who seems to be getting all the anthems right,
maybe he’s new?
Suddenly Bex appears at the stadium, back
from hospital, she is ok, just has to keep her calf iced, the NZ team clap her
in.
Alicia collects her gold, at the same time
Jess collects her bronze, both for power breaking. Tape deck guy gets the NZ
anthem right, although it sounds like it has been through an old pipe organ, we
all sing anyway.
Sam collects his bronze for power, and Johs
his gold, they share the podium, and the NZ anthem is played twice in a row.
That’s all folks, this afternoon is the team
sparring, which promises to be huge, and I know I will be busy. On the way back
to the hotel for lunch, we are treated to some Motown, Barry White, and The
Eagles round off the trip with New Kid in Town. Awesome, you have to hand it to
the bus driver, although the stereo is probably worth more than the bus, but
who cares, the whole team is jubilant, and sings along.
Day 11 – Afternoon
Ok, here it is, the final part of the
competition. We are in the bus heading to the venue. This afternoon’s music for
those that wanted to know, and those that didn’t, is Air Supply, ‘making love’
and ‘all out of love’, which some of the team sings to, aye Kelly! And to
finish with as we enter the stadium grounds, Bony M, by the rivers of Babylon!
On the way we stopped at the lights where this taxi must have had 7-8 people in
it, and they were all in the back seat! It’s not wrong, just different.
Team sparring
In ring one, Poland beat Canada in the
female first round, then the Canada men beat the English in ring 2. In ring 3,
Poland males beat the USA. Back to ring 1, Honduras girls lost to Argentina, as
did their male team in ring 2 at the same time. Then it was our turn.
In ring one NZ male vrs Argentina, and in
ring 2 at the same time, NZ girls vrs Poland.
Men first. Ryan was in first. His opponent
was very quick, and scored 3 points straight away, and then again. Ryan got
back into the match with a punch, but was behind a long way and the Argentinean
just kept coming, result was a win for Argentina. Then Kane stepped in to the
ring, lots of bouncing to start with, scores with a back kick, more bouncing
for a while, both more cautious, Kane warned, then warned again for turning
back, Argentina is strong, Argentina goes down, Kane scores with punch, then 3
pointer. Match ends. Result…Argentina. Next was Chris, both started strong,
Argentina warned, Chris scores with side, then 3 pointer, then Argentina scores
with turning, punches, Chris is strong but so is Argentina, Argentina goes
down, then Chris goes down, both score with turning kicks, match ends. Judges
sheets are in, and the winner is…Argentina, NZ is out of the Men’s team
sparring.
Woman’s, Alisa is up first, and it’s a slug
fest, the Pole is huge, Alicia should have brought her axe, but she doesn’t
back away, Pole scores 3 pointer, then again, lots of techniques from both but
Alisa is in a hard match. Bout ends, win to Poland. Candice is in next, Candice
warned for holding, both going for it, lots of punches and kicks, Candice is
faster, Pole is bigger and she can’t get close, Candice turning, then she is
warned, Pole turning, Candice punches, excellent, knocks Pole down, Turning,
Pole turning, punches, kicks, Candice losing ground, Match ends. And the winner
is…Poland. Jess is in next, with the second biggest Pole ever! Jess faster, but
the Pole uses her legs a lot, no points yet, then they start trading blows,
Jess scores with side, then goes down, lots of techniques, but not much to
score, Jess down again, Pole scores with punch, then turning, match ends. I think
this is it for NZ, the scores are in, and the winner is…Poland. Bummer, NZ is
beaten by better sides on the day. They gave it their all, a great effort.
So in the final for team sparring, it is
Poland vrs Argentina, for both Male and Female. The Argentine male team beat
the Poles, but in my opinion it was the wrong decision, however I was only in
one corner. With the women’s events, Argentina won also, in a long match going
7 rounds. Again I felt it wasn’t the right decision, but that’s tournaments for
you. The Poles are gracious losers though, good on them.
At the end of the woman’s team sparring,
Master Bos calls on the NZ team for the Haka, and they hurriedly assemble
before the official result is announced for the woman’s team sparring, he loves
it.
The medal ceremony.
I will leave the pictures to show this…
The best female went to two Poles, while the
best male belonged to Romania. Argentina collected best male team, and of
course, best country.
But the overall best female team was…New
Zealand! Dave Ballard accepts the trophy on behalf of the team, and they all
join him on the podium. Then it is over…but wait, there’s more, lots more!
The teams separate and leave ring 2 open,
they are asked to sit by Master Bos. Then on come this troupe of school kids
dressed in what I think is a national costume. The boys are in white with large
hats, while the girls are in long flowing very bright dresses. They dance for
ages, and the teams love it, especially Honduras and Argentina.
Then Master Bonilla gives a speech, followed
by Master Tran. Then there is very loud music and Master Bos and Master Marano
encourage the kids to get up and dance in one huge party. The Argentineans need
no such encouragement and the Hondurians form the worlds longest conga line,
with the NZ team, and dance around the other teams. Then ‘Always look on the
bright side of life’ is played, followed by Queen’s ‘We are the champions’.
Then some Spanish dance music comes on very
loud and the teams are still celebrating. Half of them have swapped their gear
with the other teams, especially Argentina, and Mike is trying to get them to
leave the floor, but he gives up and lets them go, they need to let off steam,
and they do.
Finally we leave and get on the bus. The
last days music is…Bryan Adams ‘Please forgive me”. But halfway through that,
Johs, encouraged by the back half of the bus, especially Mark, rushes forward
to where Mike is standing up in the isle, and down-trous
him, much to the teams delight. He takes it well, and states ‘I probably had
that coming’. Then the team just can’t keep quiet, and sing all the chants they
know.
Tomaz Barada ( for those
that don’t know, he is world champ many times, and has worked with NZ teams in
the past), who has travelled with us each morning and the Slovenian team, asks
the kiwi’s to sing a local song, which they do. Ok, I am going to get this
spelling ‘way’ wrong, and Bill Gates will be no help at all! They sing Tu tirami gna iwi. He loves it. The
team then start chanting ‘sing, sing, sing’ trying to force him to sing
something for them. He stands up and the bus goes quiet. It’s one of those
moments when you know that something amazing is going to happen. He says as close as I can remember the
following.
“I cannot sing, I
would drive you all off the bus, but I would like to say this. I have been
following New Zealand for a few years now, and you always improve each time.
You did very well this year and can be very proud. I would love to see the day
when you are the best team at the world champs.
Then honestly, he got a little teary eyed,
or perhaps it was the light at the end of the day! Whatever, the team started
chanting ‘Slovenia’ over and over, the kids were very moved.
Back at the hotel, they gathered with the
Slovenians, and had a picture taken.
Right, I have to go and get on the bus for
the after function. Tomorrow we are leaving at 7:am so I don’t know when I am
going to get this finished properly, with Doug’s photo’s.
We will get a full list of all medals won
probably tomorrow morning, but we want to get them correct, so you will just
have to wait a little longer. But from the looks of things, we think it is
about 15-16 medals in all. Will confer with Mike when I can find him and go
through the totals.