Saturday 8th May 1999

The tournament wasn't due to start until midday, so we all had a leisurely start to the day. Keith and Gill had their breakfast at 8.30 as that was the latest they would serve breakfast, whilst at Sara and Martin's B+B they would cook breakfast up to 9am - a little more civilised for a holiday!

Gill and Keith did some sightseeing, while Sara and Martin stayed in and chilled out. Sara lazed around and watched telly as it was raining outside, whilst Martin did geeky stuff on his computer. 11.30 saw us getting our kit together and going down to the pool where we met Keith and Gill in the car park as they were parking.

Matthew, JoJo, Martin, Sara, Keith and Ruth: "Dive Hard With A Vengeance"

The tournament was as well organised as last year and the "Dive Hard" (Alastair couldn't fit the "... With A Vengeance" part of the name on the programme!) team numbers were soon augmented by the arrival of Jojo (ex-Orkney and now Glasgow), Ruth from Edinburgh and Matthew from Orkney. This meant that this year we had a substitute - oh boy were we glad of that!!!

Referees hard at work

Sara in position to receive Martin's pass

Befriending the locals

In our first couple of games we played really well, winning the first game by a handsome margin, and narrowly losing the second 3-2. We then started to feel the fatigue a little and all our playing seemed to wane a little (apart from Matt, who did a sterling job). In Jojo's case it was due to her hand being crunched in the second game, and so she had to be a little more careful. The rest of us I think it was just lack of stamina and the odd bout of cramp! But we enjoyed the tournament, even if we did end up second to last!

The advantage of not doing so well was that our games finished earlier, so Sara and Martin were able to go back to their B+B and dump wet kit, change, and get back to the car park before the end of the last game. Keith and Gill kindly gave Martin and Sara a lift down to the town centre. Keith and Gill quickly also dropped off their wet stuff and changed before we all walked out to the sports centre at the other side of Kirkwall for the evening do.

The reception was in a large hall which had a huge buffet "that should have enough food for an army of Octopush players" said Alastair! This was indeed the case and much food was had by all!

We were given a chance to sit down, grab some food and drinks, and then the presentations were made.

Tim receives the Orkney Challenge trophy

Tim receives the David Sinclair Memorial Trophy

Graeme and some of the Aberdeen players then came over and joined Alastair and us, and much discussion took place about the "Dirty Fouling Scotsman" photograph that had appeared in last year's tour report. Alastair had thought he recognised the pusher as belonging to Gwyn from the Orkney team, in which case the caption should have been "Dirty Fouling Welshman"! However, Graeme pointed out that the individual was left-handed and that it therefore must be him! The subsequent ribbing lasted the whole weekend, and in Edinburgh it is no doubt still going on!

As last year, following the meal, the tables were cleared and there was a dance. Last year's main protagonists - Hairy and Scary, aka Doug and Clare - were both absent this year, but everyone else soon got into full flow, particularly Tim Dale from Edinburgh and the exuberent Amy from the Orkney Vikings who put everyone through their paces.

The dance finally finished at 1am and a whole troupe of Octopush players could be seen trudging through the cutting wind back to their respective accommodations and to bed.