Masters 2003

Six fearless masters� girls and our team advisor/mascot crossed the Tasman over Easter to contest for the 25yrs+ Oceania Masters� Gold Medal and we returned victorious!

[img_assist|fid=677|thumb=0|alt=Masters team whitewater rafting over a waterfall in New Zealand.|class=image-legacy] Six fearless masters girls (Space, Shieldsy, Macca, Shell, Rose and Liza) and our team advisor/mascot (Trav) crossed the Tasman over Easter to contest for the 25yrs+ Oceania Masters Gold Medal and we returned victorious!

A fantastic time was had by all as the Manakau Counties in Auckland hosted a tournament that show-pieced New Zealand�s cultural islander background.

We were treated to an Opening Ceremony that included an islander man and 3 islander girls perform traditional Polynesian dances. Their outfits included 4 grass skirts, 3 pairs of coconuts and a tommyhawk!

We battled on the court against teams from Australia and New Zealand. Trav desperately trying to beef up our chant "Go Reds" as we tackled Teine Samoa complete with War Cry at the beginning of each set. We then tried in vain to get Trav to outsing their harmonies and Polynesian songs during play!

The format of tournament consisted of 2 games a day with compulsory 3 sets. We had a total of 6 players, so no room for injuries! And thankfully we can boast no injuries, although Shieldsy will put her hand up for substantial wear and tear!

Off the volleyball court we were set to adventure the best New Zealand had to offer. Whilst Rosemary set off to tackle the South Island, we went white-water rafting in Rotorua, including conquering a 7m waterfall amongst others! Once we mastered the mighty drop, Space and Trav demonstrated the "Look Mum, No Hands" manoeuvre, only to disappear and pop up some distance downstream some ten seconds later!

In the theme of adventure, we tried our hands at Blackwater caving - this included a 35m abseil, flying fox into pitch black darkness with glow worms on the cave walls to guide the way, tubing in the under mountain water system, crawling on our stomachs through tight spaces and rock-climbing up 2 underground water falls!

We enjoyed soaking in the thermal springs of the Polynesian spas, smelling the sulphurous delights of the natural geysers and most importantly representing the Club in the Trivia night at the local Pig & Whistle in Rotorua!

Masters 2004 will be hosted in Adelaide and, needless to say, it has a tough act to follow!